Kenya can produce 8m metric tonnes of potato annually

Kenya has the capacity to produce between 8 -10 million metric tonnes of potato annually.

Speaking at a potato stakeholders workshop held in Nairobi Thursday to deliberate on the key issues facing the crop and also develop an action plan on the way forward, Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya Chief Executive Officer Hosea Machuki said the country has potential to produce between 8 and 10million metric tonnes annually under ideal conditions.

“Kenya has the capacity to become the largest market leader in the region in potato production, whilst ensuring enough production for its own population. This goal can be attained through increased innovation, mechanization and large scale production,” Mr Machuki said, adding that currently, the country lags behind Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa and Egypt.

The average annual potato production stands between at 2-3million metric tonnes. In2017, for instance, Kenya produced 1.15m metric tonnes of sweet potatoes with1.036m metric tonnes consumed as food while the rest went to waste.

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In 2018, Kenya exported 4385 kg of sweet potato to Norway (4075) and UK (310).

The current production average yield stands at about 8 tonnes/Ha which is lower than benchmarks of 20-40 tonnes/Ha.

“Tanzania, for instance, is doing much better than Kenya with an average yield of 20 tonnes per hectare. Other countries like Ireland have average yields of over 40 tonnes per hectare due to better varieties and management,” Mr Machuki said.

Food security

Irish and Sweet potatoes are important food crops in Kenya poised to significantly contribute to the food security component of the government’s big 4 agenda.

Already, the government developed the National Potato strategy 2016 – 2020 and Potato Produce and Market Bill 2014, which are the two key documents that provide policy direction in the sector.

“The demand for sweet potatoes is increasing countrywide with entrepreneurs venturing in sweet potato processing. Increased production, therefore, presents an opportunity for farmers to improve their food security situation and income from the sales of surplus. However, the government needs to urgently look into the budgetary allocation for the sector which currently stands at about 3%,which is much lower that the Maputo Protocol which requires African states to set aside at least 10% of their national budget towards financing agricultural sector if the country intends to be food secure by 2022,” said Mr. Okisegere Ojepat, Chief Executive Officer, Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya.

In addition to budgetary constraints, Mr Ojepat said sector continues to face other challenges including low production of seed which stands at currently only5% against the sector’s target of 10%; high costs of inputs like fertilizers and lack of proper marking and guidelines on standards.

“We would like Kenya Plant health inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to be more acceptable to the sector and to do more in terms of market expansion and quality control,” Mr. Ojepat said.