Potato consumption has been rapidly growing in Kenya, driving the need to increase production and improve quality and access to the markets. It is, therefore, important for all stakeholders in the potato subsector to work together to implement innovative approaches and solutions, thus addressing farmer’s needs.

Several innovative solutions are being implemented to address challenges faced by farmers in this sub-sector such as the development of high-yielding, pest and disease-resistant potato varieties. KALRO, Agrico potato services and Kisima farm have been working to breed seeds that can has resistance to most devastating diseases like blight and bacterial wilt. These varieties include Shangi, Markies, Sherekea and Unica. The improved varieties have enhanced farmer’s resilience to climate change.

Another important innovation is the use of integrated pest management practices for biological management of pest and diseases. Organizations such as Real IPM Kenya produce high-quality predatory mites and biopesticides to provide farmers with low-cost biological solutions thus reducing the use of chemical pesticides. Farmers are trained to identify pest thresholds and apply targeted interventions to reduce the reliance on harmful pesticides while protecting the crops and ensuring environmental safety.

Farmers in the large-scale sectors have been adopting precision agriculture technologies to revolutionize the potato sectors. They are currently using GPS technologies, drones, and soil sensors to monitor the crops, soil moisture, and the level of nutrients. Companies such as Astral Aerial Solutions provide farmers with drone spraying and mapping services which allows for better use of the available resources and increased efficiencies during planting and harvesting.