Kenia: Kenyan small-holder farmers reaping from cultivation of certified potato

At present, Kifumbu is the chairman of a local farmers’ self-help group that has taken up production of certified potato seeds, whose demand has skyrocketed countrywide amid their ability to withstand climatic shocks, pests and diseases.

"We have been producing certified potato seeds in bulk since their demand among local farmers has gone up due to their resilience in the face of harsh weather patterns as well as potato wilt and pests," Kifumbu told Xinhua during a recent interview in his farm.

According to Kifumbu, the uptake of high-yielding, drought and disease resistant potato varieties in Taita Taveta county has gone up, thereby opening new revenue streams for women and youth.

"At the moment, we are training the youth on production of certified potato seeds which has created an avenue for them to venture into agribusiness," said Kifumbu.

The other encouraging development is to witness farmers increase acreage under cultivation of improved potato varieties. These farmers can now supply the commodity to lucrative markets in urban centers," he added.

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service has already given a nod to Kifumbu’s self-help group to produce certified potato seeds and supply them to local farmers at an affordable price.

According to Martha Mwakina, the secretary of the self-help group, in 2021 alone, they produced 70 bags of certified potato seeds and fetched 154,000 shillings (1,355 U.S. dollars).

She added that improved potato varieties unlike the conventional ones have proved ideal in drier sections of Taita Taveta county, hence boosting the quest for household food and nutritional security.

She noted that grassroots women in particular have gained immensely from production of certified potato seeds, amid improved health, social and economic outcomes.

Anthony Kariku, the Taita Taveta County potato coordinator, hailed the transformation that cultivation of improved varieties has unleashed to local small-holder farmers.

"These farmers are producing the certified potato seeds at a relatively minimal cost, yet their market value has been on an exponential growth," said Kariku.

Our goal is to ensure that farmers are trained on agronomic practices that are key to produce high-quality potato seeds and remain in business in the long-term," he added.

Kariku noted that the urgency to grow improved potato varieties in south-eastern Kenyan lowlands has been reinforced by water scarcity, declining soil fertility and attacks by voracious pests.

He added that key players in the potato value chains, including agro-dealers, researchers and industry, have teamed up to enhance steady supply of improved varieties at small-holder level.

Davis Mwangoma, the Taita Taveta minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, said the county has potential to become net exporter of certified potato seeds subject to farmer training and enhanced market linkages.

According to Mwangoma, dozens of farmers’ self-help groups that are promoting cultivation of improved potato varieties have also linked up with key value chain players to ensure the commodity fetch better prices.

"The certified potato seeds producers through their umbrella body have been able to negotiate for favorable pricing of their commodity at the markets countrywide," said Mwangoma.

He revealed that about 3,200 farmers are growing improved potato varieties in Taita Taveta county, on more than 500 hactares of land.

Statistics from Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture indicate that more than 500,000 small-holder farmers are involved in potato cultivation, with average yields of eight tonnes per hectare.

In addition, potato value chains have created about 2.7 million jobs, contributing over 50 billion shillings to the Kenyan economy. ■