Site selection in potato production is one of the paramount steps when one wants to venture into potato production. Below is a table with the common counties in Kenya where you can grow potatoes.
| Region | County |
| Central | Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kiambu, Kirinyaga and Muranga |
| Eastern | Upper parts of Meru, Machakos, Makueni, Embu and Tharaka Nithi |
| Rift valley | Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Laikipia, West Pokot, Baringo, Trans-Nzoia and Kajiado |
| Western | Bungoma and Kakamega |
| Coast | Taita-Taveta and Kwale |
| Nyanza | Nyamira and Kisii |
https://snv.org/assets/explore/download/PotatoTraining%20Handbook%20WEB.pdf
Comment(1)
Eng. David Njuguna Mbugua says:
July 4, 2025 at 3:11 PMTunasco Insaat A.S., in partnership with Agrosad of Poland, Eco Serve of Australia,introduces revolutionary potato varieties by importing quality seeds and tubers from Agrosad Poland, specifically tailored for Kenya’s climate and soils. Through extensive research and field trials, these varieties demonstrate increased resistance to diseases like late blight and significantly higher yields.
Tunasco implements a comprehensive, vertically integrated system encompassing advanced seedling nurseries, optimized farming techniques, and robust logistical support. Key strategies include:
• – Quality Assurance: Provision of imported, certified, disease-free seed tubers from Agrosad Poland, advanced agronomic training, and consistent farmer education programs.
• – Enhanced Infrastructure: Establishment of modern cold-storage warehouses strategically positioned across key potato farming regions, drastically reducing post-harvest losses by extending shelf life and maintaining potato quality.
• – Integrated Logistics: Efficient transport systems connecting farms directly to markets and processing facilities, minimizing transit times and ensuring freshness.
• – Value Addition: Development of modern potato processing plants for chips, crisps, starch, and other derivatives, adding substantial economic value and diversifying market opportunities.
By engaging with farmer cooperatives, SACCOs, large-scale farmers, and individual growers, Tunasco maximizes utilization of idle and underutilized lands strategically, enhancing productivity and profitability for farmers. Collaborations with national and county governments further amplify impact through supportive agricultural policies, infrastructure improvements, and specialized training initiatives.
Through these comprehensive efforts, Tunasco Insaat A.S. transforms potato farming in Kenya, effectively addressing existing challenges, ensuring long-term food security, generating employment, and fostering sustainable economic growth.
Other common limitations to optimal potato production are the use of poor-quality seeds, pests and diseases, and low adoption of good agronomic practices. The major crop diseases affecting potato production are potato late blight, bacteria wilt, and viral diseases. Other potato diseases include black leg and powdery mildew. Insects that commonly transmit potato diseases or damage the plant include the potato beetle, potato tuber moth, green peach aphid, potato aphid, beet leafhoppers, thrips, and mites.
Knowledge on the best methods to increase potato yields is housed in agricultural research institutions. However, this knowledge has not been packaged in a format that is easy to use by farmers, extension workers, and policy makers. As a result, the practices of potato production have largely not been guided by the good agricultural practices. This booklet digests scientific knowledge into easy to use guidelines in order to boost potato production. The target audience for the booklet includes extension workers, policy makers, and farmers.