PHOTO: World Potato Congress President, Dr. Peter VanderZaag
On 29th May 2026, more than 1,200 stakeholders from Kenya’s potato value chain gathered at Kevian Kenya Ltd Farm 2 in Timau, Meru County, for the International Day of Potato (IDP) 2026 celebrations and the Regional Potato Fair, in a major industry event that called for urgent action on innovation, quality seed adoption, and market reforms.
The event, organized by the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) in collaboration with the Meru County Government, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), AGRA, Kevian Kenya Ltd and other partners, brought together over 1,000 farmers and more than 200 stakeholders from government, research institutions, private sector companies, financial institutions, and development organizations.
Held under the theme “Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish,” the celebrations reaffirmed the potato’s position as Kenya’s second most important food and cash crop after maize. The sector contributes an estimated KES 70 billion annually to the economy, supports more than 1.3 million smallholder farmers, and sustains over 3.5 million livelihoods along the value chain.
Innovation takes centre stage
The Regional Potato Fair provided a strong platform for innovation, trade and knowledge exchange, with exhibitors showcasing technologies across seed systems, fertilizers, agrochemicals, mechanization, irrigation, digital agriculture, and value addition.
Farmers participated in live demonstrations featuring drone-based crop monitoring, modern seed multiplication techniques, and climate-smart production systems designed to boost yields and improve resilience to climate change.
Stakeholders used the platform to push for stronger investment in structured markets, storage facilities, and processing infrastructure, noting that post-harvest losses and market inefficiencies continue to limit farmer incomes.
Push for seed system transformation
Speaking on behalf of the Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Dr. Calistus Efukho ,Ag. Director General, AFA ,said addressing seed potato shortages remains a top priority for the sector. He highlighted emerging propagation technologies such as Rooted Apical Cuttings (RAC), aeroponics, and hybrid true potato seed as critical solutions for scaling up certified seed availability.
He also emphasized the importance of implementing the National Potato Master Plan (2026–2036) and strengthening digital platforms such as Viazi Soko to improve market transparency and efficiency.
Dr. Efukho further reaffirmed Kenya’s readiness to host the 13th World Potato Congress (WPC 2026) in Naivasha, describing it as a historic opportunity for Sub-Saharan Africa to position itself in the global potato industry.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) called for stronger farmer organization, improved data systems through KIAMIS, and strict enforcement of standardized packaging and marketing regulations to enhance transparency and fairness in the value chain.
County and private sector voices
Meru County Chief Officer, Mr. Isaiah Baituti, noted that despite the potato’s economic importance, farmers continue to face high production costs, post-harvest losses, and market exploitation.
He called for stronger extension services and closer collaboration among stakeholders.
Kevian Kenya Ltd Managing Director, Dr. Kimani Rugendo, urged farmers to adopt certified seed and commercial production practices, warning against the continued use of recycled seed.
He also raised concern over the rapid conversion of agricultural land into non-farming developments, describing it as a threat to long-term food security.
Industry leadership calls for reform
NPCK Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wachira Kaguongo, emphasized the need to scale up certified seed systems and accelerate adoption of modern propagation technologies.
He said innovations such as Rooted Apical Cuttings, aeroponics, and hybrid true potato seed offer practical solutions to persistent seed shortages.
He also confirmed Kenya’s preparations to host the 13th World Potato Congress in October 2026, noting that the event will position the country as a global hub for potato innovation, investment and knowledge exchange.
Global endorsement and policy momentum
World Potato Congress President, Dr. Peter VanderZaag, commended Kenya’s progress in seed innovation and encouraged wider adoption of modern technologies to address global food security challenges.
Stakeholders also highlighted ongoing policy reforms, including enforcement of the 50kg packaging standard, development of the Potato Industry Code of Practice, and strengthening of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) to reduce inefficiencies and stabilize markets.
Sector outlook
Despite its strong contribution to the economy, the potato sector continues to face structural challenges, including limited access to certified seed, low productivity, inadequate storage infrastructure, and fragmented markets. Stakeholders stressed that sustained investment in irrigation, storage, value addition, and farmer capacity building is essential to unlock the sector’s full potential.
The event concluded with a unified call for a more organized, competitive, and commercially viable potato industry anchored on innovation, strong partnerships, and effective policy implementation.
As Kenya prepares to host the World Potato Congress 2026, stakeholders said the global event presents a critical opportunity to accelerate transformation of the potato value chain and position the country as a leading voice in global potato production and innovation.
