KENYA POTATO SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE (KPSI) PROJECT, JULY 2024 – JUNE 2027

LAIKIPIA, MERU, NANDI and NYANDARUA COUNTIES

 

Catalyzing improved Potato Productivity and Marketing for a Sustainable Potato Food System

Summary of Project Problem and Project Justification

In Kenya, potato is both a staple food and a cash crop for many rural families and ranks as the second most important food crop after maize. It is grown by over 800,000 households, employs 2.7 million actors along the marketing channels and contributes over KES 50 billion (~US$ 324M) to the economy. Potato is emerging as one of the strategic enterprises with the potential to play a great role towards realization of the set objectives of Vision 2030. It is also identified as one of the key crops in the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda aimed at improving the incomes, food security and general welfare of millions of households in the country. However, despite expanded production area, productivity per unit area has remained low (7-10T/ha) due to poor agronomic practices coupled with low access and use of poor-quality seeds, plus use of unsuitable inputs. Poor marketing infrastructure and inadequate policies have also been identified as wanting in the efforts to exploit the crop’s potential to contribute to development and growth of the economy.

Project Goal:

To increase productivity and incomes of 150,000 farmers directly and increase competitiveness of the industry through improved value addition, marketing and policy environment.

Objectives:

1: Sustainable farming: 

  1. To build a strong and efficient potato seed system that enhances farmers’ access to high quality seed of appropriate varieties.
  2. To promote sustainable ware potato production through adoption of climate-smart potato farming practices for improved yields and profitability.

2: Inclusive market and trade: To build inclusive and structured inputs and output markets, access to financial services and trade opportunities for smallholder potato farmers.

3: Policy and state capabilities:  To improve enabling environment and coordination in potato subsector for inclusive agriculture transformation.

Outputs:

  1. Increase seed potato production of demanded varieties by 50% for improved access by smallholder farmer
  2. 150,000 farmers access extension information on sustainable farming practices for improved production
  3. 400 potato farmer groups strengthened and supported to trade through structured marketing system
  4. Strategies and regulations on ware and seed potato production and marketing are effectively adopted in the project counties

Outcomes:

  1. 50% increase in production of certified seeds and high-quality planting materials of demanded varieties
  2. The number of farmers practicing climate-smart potato farming increased by at least 50%
  3. Number of potato farmers accessing coordinated and structured market linkages increased by 100%
  4. 4 project counties implementing potato strategies and regulations for ware and seed potatoes

Key partners:

  1. National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK)
  2. Egerton University (EU)
  3. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)

 

Role of government in project

  1. Implementing partners comprise both government and private institutions: The government institutions are KALRO and Egerton University. KALRO will ensure an increase in the production of certified seeds, while Egerton University will ensure farmers access extension information on sustainable farming practices.
  2. At the national level, the project will work with regulatory agencies such as KEPHIS, AFA, KEBS, PCPB, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Interior for coordination of enforcement of regulations.
  3. The county government department of agriculture will help in identification, recruitment, and mobilization of beneficiaries, as well as the sustainability of the project.

 

Other collaborating partners:

Seed producers, fertilizer companies, agro-chemical companies, financial institutions, soil testing companies, agro- processors, mechanization companies, and other logistic companies and other key actors and players in the industry.

 

Beneficiaries: 150,000 direct beneficiaries, 40% women and 10% youth and 300,000 indirect beneficiaries

Number of targeted new jobs for youth and women

4,876 in primary production, input sourcing, marketing of potatoes, service provision, seed multiplication

 

Acknowledgement

The consortium members highly appreciate AGRA for the financial and technical support of this project