Throughout August 2025, the NPCK, in partnership with county governments, FAO, and other stakeholders, held a series of farmer field days and trainings across Nandi, Vihiga, and Uasin Gishu counties. The activities aimed to promote conservation agriculture, climate-smart practices, and the adoption of certified potato seeds through the Viazi Soko digital platform. at Kaplonyo village, Emgwen Sub-County, over 100 farmers gathered to learn about soil conservation, mulching, kitchen gardens, integrated pest management (IPM), crop rotation, and the use of certified potato seeds.
Partners including NPCK, SunCulture, Konkali K+PS Fertilizer, and Fanisi Fertilizer emphasized zero soil disturbance and contract farming opportunities for processing potato varieties such as Markies. In Tuiyabei village, Emgwen Sub-County, attracted 70 farmers.
Training focused on climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and kitchen garden innovations like vertical and raised beds. Farmers also received tree seedlings to promote agroforestry. Key partners included NPCK, Greenlife Agrochemicals, Highchem, and Fanisi Fertilizers. at Kapsaiyo village, Aldai Sub-County, stakeholders such as CGA, Growmate, Twiga Chemicals, and local Saccos trained farmers on contract farming, input sourcing, and potato varieties. NPCK highlighted policies, aggregation, and marketing through Viazi Soko.
Through the KSPI project, NPCK held a training on 12th August at Kamotonk village, Mosop Sub-County, attracting over 75 farmers. The session covered GAPs, soil health, contract farming, agrochemicals, and crop insurance, with Acre Africa promoting risk protection. Notably, 34 farmers expressed interest in contract farming for the upcoming season.
NPCK partnered with Kaimosi ATC and Baraton University to collect soil samples for testing. Both institutions allocated land for modern demo farms, seed propagation, and apical cutting greenhouses to support farmer training and seedling distribution.
NPCK joined over 30 exhibitors, including agrochemical firms, fertilizer companies, dairy processors, and seed enterprises, to interact with farmers and showcase innovations in potato farming at Ainapkoi Farmers Cooperative, Uasin Gishu, NPCK emphasized the importance of certified potato seeds, climate-smart agriculture, and contract farming.
Fanisi Fertilizer trained farmers on soil nutrition, while Truvets emphasized safe agrochemical use. The cooperative, known for its dairy aggregation, also supports potato and maize farming, youth empowerment, and field schools for continuous farmer education.
Through the engagement initiatives by NPCK and partners reinforced the importance of certified seeds, conservation farming, and digital platforms in transforming the potato value chain. With growing farmer participation, soil health analysis, and contract farming uptake, the region is steadily moving toward more sustainable and profitable potato production.
