The National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), under the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI) project, successfully organized a regional potato trade fair and a series of complementary capacity-building activities across Nandi County. The initiative marked a significant milestone in strengthening the potato value chain by integrating technology promotion, market linkages, extension capacity building, and farmer empowerment.

The multi-faceted programme brought together farmers, seed producers, input suppliers, processors, Village-Based Advisors (VBAs), county government officers, and development partners, all united by a common goal of enhancing sustainable potato production, productivity, and commercialization.

Regional Potato Trade Fair: Showcasing Innovation and Market Opportunities

The regional potato trade fair served as a central platform for knowledge exchange, innovation showcasing, and business networking. Exhibitors included certified seed producers, agro-input companies, mechanization service providers, fertilizer manufacturers, and potato processors. Farmers had the opportunity to interact directly with service providers, learn about improved potato varieties, and explore modern agronomic and post-harvest technologies.

Live demonstrations were conducted on good agricultural practices, including proper seed selection, recommended spacing, fertilizer application, disease and pest management, and mechanization options for land preparation and harvesting. Sessions on value addition, storage solutions, and market requirements enabled farmers to better understand how to align production with market demand, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve profitability