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NPCK AND PARTNERS SUCESSFULLY ORGANIZED MARCH-AUGUST 2023 POTATO DEMOS AT COUNTY LEVEL
In rural settings, access to knowledge, improved technologies, innovations, and recommended agricultural practices remains a challenge. Dissemination of extension and advisory services to smallholder farmers is critical. To address this, NPCK working with partners usually organizes county demos in various potato-growing counties aiming towards transferring knowledge, technologies, and innovation to smallholder potato farmers. During this […]
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MERU COUNTY POTATO STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
County potato strategy (CPS) is a policy document that is normally aligned with the National Potato Strategy. It factors in the contributions of potato industry players and development partners towards improving and transforming the potato Industry at County Level. The strategy is usually informed by the aspirations of the county government and aligns with the […]
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POTATO FARMERS FIELD DAY AT FRESHCROP FARM IN MAU NAROK
Potato farmers’ field days usually provide an excellent opportunity for sharing information, technologies, alongside providing an avenue for networking and sharing trending issues within the potato value chain. On 20th July 2023, during the 2nd Farmer’s Field Day held at FreshCrop Ltd farm in Mau Narok; farmers had an opportunity to attend and learn […]
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LAUNCHING OF KANTARIA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CENTER (KATIC)
Information plays an important part in the wider learning process. Resource centers have an important role to play in improving access to such useful information. A resource center collects and organizes materials that are useful to a particular group of people, for example either relevant to the producers, marketers, distributors etc. In efforts to […]
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STRENGTHENING SMALL-HOLDER POTATO MARKETING GROUPS
Structured involvement of smallholder farmers in agricultural production, which is the backbone to the Kenyan economy, is key in ensuring self-employment, job creation, and investment in rural communities. However, smallholder farmers are usually constrained by a number of challenges and risks in the production and marketing process. One way of supporting this key actors […]
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AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND OTHER MARKETS CESS REVIEW
Over the years, market Cess charges on agricultural produce by different counties at different rates have negatively affected the price in the commodity markets. In a country where agriculture serves as the backbone to most of the population, careful and strategic assessment of these tax provisions is paramount. It is crucial to strike a balance […]
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LATE BLIGHT IN POTATOES
Late blight is a devastating disease that affects potatoes and other plants in the Solanaceae family. The first recorded outbreak of late blight in potatoes occurred in the early 1840s in Europe, and it quickly spread to other parts of the world. The disease was responsible for the ‘Irish Potato Famine’ in the mid-19th century, […]
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THE GOVERNMENT IS SET TO IMPLEMENT THE WAREHOUSE RECEIPT SYSTEM ACT, 2019
The government is set to implement the Warehouse Receipt System Act, 2019, that establishes a well-regulated trading system for agricultural commodities that links buyers and sellers. Speaking during a press conference at State House Nairobi, H.E. President William Samoei Ruto stated that the system creates an ecosystem with opportunities for the private sector and the […]
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REVIEW OF POTATO VARIETY RELEASE ATTRIBUTES
In the recent past, the release of new potato varieties has been expanding over time. Presently, we have over 67 different potato varieties released to the farmer and the market at large. However, the adoption has been very slow, as most of these varieties have not been taken up by the farmers and processors, who […]
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PROMOTING HYBRID TRUE POTATO SEED TECHNOLOGY
One of the key bottlenecks in the potato industry is the shortage of quality seeds. Various efforts and initiatives have been undertaken by the government, KEPHIS, and other partners to improve the seed potato industry. These initiatives include private accreditation, increased seed producers, the release of more potato varieties, the adoption of new seed production […]
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