Participants during a virtual meeting on the first meeting on development of an updated National Potato Strategy
The National Potato Strategy (2016-2020) was launched in 2016 and has been in implementation since then under the coordination of NPCK. So far, the strategy has helped coordinate actors’ activities thereby reducing duplication of initiatives, increasing production, and improving the regulatory framework such as development and launch of The Crops (Irish Potatoes) Regulations 2019. With the lifespan of the current National potato strategy coming to an end in December this year, there is need to develop an updated new one that captures new developments such as improved technologies, county and national governments initiatives among others.
It is in this regard that NPCK under the support of GIZ and other partners started the process of developing an updated version of the strategy. The technical committee which was appointed by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Prof. Hamadi Boga held the first brainstorming meeting on 12th October 2020. The meeting was opened by the Director Crop Resources, Agribusiness and Marketing Development Ms. Grace Agili, and participants included GIZ, SNV, MoALF&C, JKUAT, UON, KALRO, KEPHIS, AFA and NPCK. Members agreed on areas requiring review and updates, timelines, activity schedule and responsibilities of each institution. The development process will include obtaining inputs from major potato producing counties and other stakeholders contributing through a validation meeting. It is expected that by the end of the year the new strategy will be complete and its implementation will start in 2021.
