Kenya’s potato industry struggles with seed quality and funding challenges

The National Potato Strategy of 2021-2025, released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, highlights a slight improvement in access to certified potato seeds, despite the development, certification, and release of numerous varieties. The report identifies the scarcity of foundation potato seeds and the perishability of potato seeds as key challenges, complicating storage and distribution.

The Kenya Agricultural, Livestock and Research Organisation (KARLO), in collaboration with local universities and the International Potato Centre (CIP), conducts research on seed potatoes at the KARLO-Tigoni National Research Centre. The potential varieties are then submitted to KEPHIS for evaluation and certification. However, structural changes in the 1990s, including the allocation of research land to private individuals, have resulted in a shortage of land for seed multiplication at KALRO Tigoni and ADC Molo, further exacerbating the challenge.

The report also points to financial constraints faced by these institutions, impacting their ability to support the industry effectively. Despite the critical role of potatoes as a food crop and income-generating enterprise, the sector has not received sufficient funding, although some counties have increased their budgetary allocations. The report suggests that Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (Saccos) are providing group lending services, enabling farmers to access certified seeds and other inputs. Additionally, it proposes the establishment of mechanisms to access funds under the Agriculture and Food Authority Act and engaging financial institutions to offer tailored financial and insurance services to the potato industry.