The County Potato Strategy (CPS) is a policy document that aligns with the National Potato Strategy, Kenya Vision 2030 and County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). The policy document factors in the contributions of subsector players and development partners in enhancing potato industry performance and growth at the County Level. It also aligns with the Agricultural Sector and Transformation Growth Strategy (ASTGS) hence outlining the county’s potential towards ensuring food security, improved income and employment creation. The CPS also takes into consideration the existing county opportunities and challenges as informed by players and development partners operating in the County for well-coordinated and harmonized activities.
As a way of supporting counties to have and implement their own potato strategy, NPCK in collaboration with Solidaridad, KONRAD, AGRA, KENAFF and other partners has been engaging the county of Meru to develop a Potato strategy that will guide potato subsector transformation in the county. The development process started with an introduction and partnership creation, stakeholder engagement meetings up to validation stage. During the 16th County Cabinet meeting in July, Meru County Irish Potato Strategy 2024-2028 was approved by the cabinet. The final step is to launch and start the implementation plans. Meru CPS looks into having planned interventions through the following objectives; enhanced seed system, improved potato production, enhanced access to finance, improved post-harvest handling, value addition, marketing and processing. NPCK will support the county government undertake these interventions through the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiatives project funded by AGRA.