The Seeds and Plant Varieties (Vegetatively Propagating Seed) Regulations 2024, enacted by the Ministry of Agriculture, aim to enhance the quality and accessibility of vegetatively propagating seeds (VPS) within the nation’s seed industry. These regulations categorize VPS into groups such as root and tuber crops (potato is to be classified), oil and nut crops, sugar crops, medicinal herbs, spices, and aromatic plants, beverage crops, fruit trees, grasses, and pasture legumes. ​Key provisions;

1. Mandatory Registration– Individuals intending to produce or sell VPS must obtain a valid registration certificate from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Operating without this certificate is an offense.
2. Certification Requirements– Sellers of specified seeds must apply for certification from KEPHIS. Certificates are valid for one year and then subject to renewal. ​
3. Grafting Service Providers– Individuals offering grafting services for VPS must also register with KEPHIS and submit quarterly reports detailing the types and quantities of grafting performed.
4. Exemptions– The regulations do not apply to VPS produced by farmers for their use or for sharing among farmers.

These measures are designed to standardize the production and sale of VPS, ensuring seed quality and promoting agricultural productivity in Kenya. Some of the benefits that VPS Regulations, 2024 will bring to Kenya’s seed potato industry;

1. Improved Seed Quality- The regulations mandate certification and inspection by KEPHIS, ensuring that only disease-free, high-quality seed potatoes are distributed. This will reduce the spread of seed-borne diseases like bacterial wilt and late blight.
2. Boost to Formal Seed Systems- The regulations encourage more private sector investment in seed potato production, hence, will improve the availability and affordability of certified seed potatoes.
3. Farmer Protection & Traceability- Farmers will be able to trace seed sources, ensuring they buy from registered producers. The risk of counterfeit or substandard seed potatoes will be addressed.
4. Support for Small-Scale Farmers – The exemption for farmers producing VPS for personal use allows smallholders to continue traditional seed-sharing practices without regulatory burdens. This ensures both formal and informal seed systems co-exist effectively.
5. Increased Yields & Productivity- Access to certified seed potatoes leads to higher yields than farmers using farm-saved seeds, thus enhancing marketability and profitability.

A photo of the first page of the VPS regulations and certified seed potato with the approved KEPHIS label

https://kilimo.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DRAFT-VEGETATIVELY-PROPAGATING-SEEDS-REGULATIONS-2023-For-National-Validation.pdf