The National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), in partnership with Twinkle and Sparkle Consulting, successfully conducted a series of Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) across Meru, Laikipia, Nyandarua and Nandi counties as part of the ongoing rollout of the programme in the four NPCK project counties.
The trainings were designed to strengthen the capacity of Village-Based Advisors to provide effective support to potato farmers by equipping them with practical business, financial, and technical skills. The programme brought together both experienced and newly recruited VBAs, who were prepared to serve as key resource persons in their respective farming communities.
Throughout the sessions, participants received practical training on financial literacy, bookkeeping, business planning, farmer health insurance, and identifying business opportunities within the potato value chain. They also underwent refresher training on the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI), its objectives, and the important role of Village-Based Advisors in supporting the implementation of project activities at the grassroots level.
The programme further introduced participants to Viazi Soko, NPCK’s digital potato marketing platform, enhancing their understanding of how the platform connects farmers to markets and contributes to improved potato marketing and commercialization.
The training sessions were highly interactive, providing participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss challenges affecting potato farming, and explore practical solutions for improving farmer enterprises. In Laikipia County, several discussions were conducted in the local language, creating an inclusive learning environment that encouraged active participation and enhanced understanding among the trainees.
The Village-Based Advisors demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment throughout the programme, expressing confidence in applying the knowledge and skills they had acquired to support farmer groups. The trainings strengthened their capacity to guide farmers in improving financial management, maintaining proper farm records, developing viable business plans, accessing health insurance, and identifying enterprise opportunities within the potato value chain.
Following the completion of the Training of Trainers sessions, the Village-Based Advisors were prepared to cascade the knowledge and skills to farmer groups within their respective areas under the continued technical support, mentorship, and supervision of NPCK. This approach was intended to strengthen farmer capacity at the grassroots level while promoting the adoption of sustainable and commercially oriented farming practices.
The successful implementation of the ToT programme reaffirmed NPCK’s commitment to building a strong network of community-based extension providers capable of supporting farmers with practical knowledge, improving enterprise development, and accelerating the implementation of the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative.
Through continuous capacity building and strategic partnerships, the Council continued to strengthen the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and market-oriented potato value chain in Kenya.
