Producing certified seed potato in Kenya is a structured process regulated by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to ensure high-quality planting materials. The use of certified seed is critical in improving yields—by up to 30–50%—and controlling diseases such as bacterial wilt and Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN). However, certified seed production in Kenya currently meets less than 5% of national demand due to limited seed multipliers and high production costs. To participate in seed production, farmers must follow specific procedures and comply with regulatory guidelines.

1. Registration as a Seed Merchant or Out-Grower

To produce certified seed, individuals or entities must register with KEPHIS either as:

• A Seed Merchant: Ksh 75,000 registration fee; Ksh 10,000 annual renewal.
• An Out-Grower under a licensed merchant: Ksh 500 registration; Ksh 300 annual renewal.

Applicants must complete the SR1 Form (available on the KEPHIS website) and submit it with the prescribed fees.

2. Pre-Planting Preparations

Before planting:

• Conduct mandatory soil tests through KEPHIS:
  • Bacterial Wilt – Ksh 3,000
  • Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) – Ksh 1,000
• Identify and source certified basic seed.
• Out-growers must sign an MoU with a licensed merchant to secure seed supply.
• Maintain proper isolation distances:
  • 100 meters for breeder, pre-basic, and basic seed.
  • 50 meters for certified seed (C1, C2, C3).

3. Field Inspection Process

Within 30 days of planting, apply for field inspection using Form SR5, a serialized booklet issued by KEPHIS. Information required includes:

• Acreage and crop history of the land (last three seasons).
• Class, origin, and lot number of seed used.
• Planting date and estimated harvest date.
• Potato species and variety.

Field inspections are scheduled based on planting dates and must verify:

• Proper isolation distance.
• Trueness to type and absence of off-types.
• Presence of any disease symptoms.

At least two field inspections are conducted:

• First Inspection: During flowering or canopy cover/tuber initiation.
• Second Inspection: During tuber development to confirm corrections.

Field inspection fees:

• Ksh 430 per hectare, with a minimum of Ksh 1,935 per seed field.
• Mileage charge: Ksh 58.50 per km.

4. Pre-Harvest and Post-Harvest Inspections

After de-haulming, KEPHIS collects a sample of 400 tubers per hectare for testing bacterial wilt. For plots under 0.5 ha, a sample equal to 1% of the total plant population is taken. If the field passes, harvesting and grading can proceed.

After harvesting:

• Grading must be done by seed size:
  • Size I: 28–45 mm
  • Size II: 45–60 mm
• Remove damaged or diseased tubers.
• Apply for official labels based on the quantity and type of graded seed.

Label cost: Ksh 15 per label, with a minimum of Ksh 990. Labels indicate:

• Potato variety
• Seed size
• Net weight (not exceeding 50kg per bag)
• Seed generation (e.g., Basic, C1G, C2G)
• Lot number
• Sealing date
• Region of production
• Label colors: White (Breeder/Basic), Blue (C1G), Pink (C2G–C3G)

KEPHIS performs final sealing and labeling, after which the seed can be sold as certified.

5. Seed Quality Monitoring and Farmer Guidelines

Due to increasing demand, farmers must be vigilant when buying seed:

1. Buy from registered seed producers—verify with KEPHIS or NPCK.
2. Check for the KEPHIS label—stitched or placed inside the seed bag.
3. Request and keep official receipts.
4. Retain packaging, receipts, and labels for the full season for follow-up.
5. Avoid planting rotten, sprouted, or damaged tubers.
6. Report anomalies immediately to KEPHIS, NPCK, or extension officers:
   • Preserve affected tubers or disease symptoms as evidence.
   • Do not tamper with label information or packaging.

6. Infrastructure and Knowledge Requirements

Seed growers should be:

• Knowledgeable in potato agronomy and seed production protocols.
• Equipped with approved facilities for sorting, grading, and storage.

Contacts for Assistance and Reporting

• KEPHIS Headquarters
  Phone: 0709 891 000
  Email: director@kephis.org | kephisinfo@kephis.org
  Website: www.kephis.org
• Regional KEPHIS Offices
  • Kitale – 0722 209 502
  • Nakuru – 0722 209 503
  • Embu – 0728 600 092
  • Mombasa – 0722 209 504
  • Kisumu – 0728 607 098
• NPCK (National Potato Council of Kenya)
  Phone: 0712 338 633 | 0799 739 578
  Email: complaints@npck.org | npck@npck.org
  Website: www.npck.org