Potato is the second most important food and cash crop after maize in Kenya and occupies a prime position in terms of its contribution to food security, poverty eradication, and economic development. It is grown by about 800,000 smallholder farmers, employs 3.5 million actors along the marketing channels, and contributes over Kshs 50 billion to the economy. The industry has also shown great potential, as stipulated in the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), and the National Potato Strategy 2021–2025.
NPCK has been partnering with other stakeholder in undertaking various potato interventions and initiatives aimed to improve and transform the potato subsector into a robust, competitive, and self-regulating industry. In continuing our joint role of transforming the potato industry, NPCK, and other stakeholders usually organize the National Potato Conference in May every year, coordinated by the Potato Council. This has been an important forum for networking, showcasing, and sharing information on potato value chain issues, technologies, and innovations.
The sixth National Potato Conference will be held on the 30th and 31st of May 2023 at KALRO HQ, Loresho. Following the recent FAO endorsement for the International Day of Potato, marked for 30th May, NPCK plans to combine this important day with the National Potato Conference. It will be the first International Day declared for a major crop, and it is a testament of the many qualities of the potato that make it a vital tool in helping to eradicate poverty, improve food security, and provide healthy and nutritious food to millions of consumers around the globe.
The Theme for the International Day of Potato-National Potato Conference 2023;
“Transforming Potato value chain into a Sustainable Nutrition Sensitive Food System for Socio-Economic growth”
Through:
1. Improved Seed systems,
2. Digital solutions,
3. Climate smart technologies and
4. Partnership
The objectives of the event will be;
a) 1. Celebrate and create awareness of International Day of Potato (IDP)
b) 2. Inaugurate planning committee for hosting World Potato Congress 2026 in Kenya
c) 3. Launch Kenya National Potato Savings and Credit Cooperative Society
d) 4. Showcase through exhibition, innovations, products and services
e) 5. Share information on policy and regulatory framework.
f) 6. Establish partnership for structured production and marketing
Potato Council is therefore pleased to invite you to participate in this important event. You will have the opportunity to learn from and network with other knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the field.
For more information, you can reach us through this email address: policy.partnership1@npck.org; Tel +254777443656/ 0799739578.
We look forward to your participation.
