Potato contract farming is increasingly becoming a reliable approach for farmers who seek security in production and marketing. Among its greatest advantages is the guarantee of market access at agreed prices. This shields farmers from the unpredictability of market volatility, where oversupply or exploitation by middlemen often lowers farm-gate prices.
By working under a contract, farmers gain stability in income, allowing them to plan better and invest with confidence. Currently, NPCK, through the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI) project, is linking farmers in contract farming to strengthen market linkages and promote structured value chains. Linking farmers to financial institutions is easing access to loans or credit facilities for the purchase of inputs and farm operations while bundling it with crop insurance gets the caution for farmers against risks such as adverse weather conditions such as frost attack.
A group photo during a follow up session on contract farming by a VBA.
Extension services provided under these arrangements through the field officers and the VBAs equip farmers with technical knowledge on improved farming practices, pest and disease management, and post-harvest handling, ensuring both higher yields and better quality. Furthermore, with irrigation, farmers can take advantage of offseason demand, ensuring a continuous supply to processors and markets when potatoes are scarce and prices are more favorable. Despite these advantages, contract farming also demands certain sacrifices from farmers, which must be followed diligently for the partnership to succeed.
The process often begins with soil testing, which requires time and sometimes extra costs to ensure the land is suitable for production and to determine the right fertilizer application. Next is the use of recommended inputs including certified seed, quality fertilizers, and agrochemicals. These can be expensive but are necessary for achieving the yields and quality standards adherence to a strict spraying regime, ensuring the crop is protected from pests and diseases at the right intervals. This calls for discipline and extra labor.
Markies variety under contract farming in Meru County.
Finally, farmers must exercise patience during the growth period, as most processing potato varieties take around four months to fully mature, unlike common varieties like Shangi which take about three months. This waiting period requires financial resilience and trust in the contract system until harvest and payment are realized.
With discipline, resilience, and adoption of technologies such as irrigation, and storage during glut, contract farming can become a pathway toward more sustainable incomes and stronger participation in structured agricultural value chains.
