Kenya has released a growing number of potato varieties in recent years, but their adoption remains low due to challenges such as limited seed availability, poor access to quality seed, and lack of market alignment. Many farmers continue to use recycled seed from local sources, which reduces productivity and restricts variety diversification. This cycle of low innovation and poor yields limits the sector’s growth and makes it harder for farmers to benefit from improved genetics and modern practices.

One of the key solutions lies in strengthening the link between farmers and formal seed producers. NPCK, through the Viazi Soko digital platform, are making notable progress by partnering with seed companies such as Agrico, FreshCrop, and Kisima Farm. These partnerships are helping improve the availability and affordability of certified seed, while also promoting direct farmer engagement with seed merchants to encourage informed decision-making and sustained use of improved varieties.

The lack of variety diversification increases the sector’s vulnerability to climate change, pests, and market shocks. There is a growing need to introduce varieties that offer desirable traits like early maturity, disease resistance, strong market appeal, and different dormancy types for flexible planting. Planting a mix of varieties across different seasons can improve resilience, storability, and crop establishment, while aligning with both farmer preferences and market demands.

Farmer awareness and training are crucial to successful variety adoption. Many farmers lack adequate knowledge on the technical aspects of seed selection, agronomy, and marketing. Addressing this knowledge gap through targeted training and field demonstrations can empower farmers to embrace new varieties and adopt best practices. Understanding farmers’ needs, behaviors, and existing practices is essential for developing interventions that are practical, scalable, and sustainable. merchant interactions for improved production and sustainability.