Challenges with seed availability and access continue to critically impact potato production in Kenya. Although the number of certified seed producers has increased over the years. The industry, however, is still faced with other additional challenges, like delays in sticker labels, counterfeit seeds, and a capacity gap in the utilization of digital platforms during the seed certification process, among others. All these have negatively impacted the overall industry performance.
In response to addressing counterfeits, NPCK has undertaken initiatives like facilitating seed booking and ordering through the Viazi Soko platform, which allows farmers to directly interact with the seed companies and order what they want on time and with no adulteration. These efforts have been positive, however, there are still a few cases of counterfeits.
KEPHIS, in fulfilling its mandate of ensuring high-quality seed of desired varieties to farmers at the right time, convened seed stakeholders meeting on 17th January 2024. The meeting outcomes; there will be increased surveillance on seed quality, capacity enhancement to the inspectors and stakeholders, ensured timely availability of the sticker labels, digitized seed certification process, a policy will be developed to declare fake seed sale an economic crime, New KEPHIS label will be introduced for timeliness and traceability among other initiatives.
A Photo of Seed stakeholders
