The Eastern and Central Region Potato Fair was held on 29th November 2019 in Meru County. Over 30 exhibitors displayed their products and services in the areas of Crop protection, Mechanization, Soil nutrition, Seed and Ware potato production, Financing, crop rotation among others. The event had over 1,000 registered participants that included farmers, stakeholders, and development partners in the potato subsector from all over the country. The event was organized the County government in partnership with NPCK and other partners.
Left: Farmers at the demonstration field getting practical lessons on potato production.Right learning about new potato inputs one of the exhibition tents.
The regional potato fair provides a platform for one-on-one interaction between potato farmers and input and service providers as well as an opportunity to showcase their latest innovations and practical demonstration on good agronomic practices in the demo plots. Exhibitors were impressed by farmers’ genuine interest to learn, network and purchase their products while farmers were amazed by the crop performance at the demonstration plots despite the excessive rain that was being experienced in the region.
The guest of honour was His Excellency Hon. Kiraitu Murungi, EGH- Governor of Meru County who appreciated the efforts of the NPCK, its partners and exhibitors for bringing the latest knowledge in potato farming to the county. He also thanked the farmers who had braved the cold weather to participate in the event. He urged potato farmers in the county to be confident and proud of the fact that they play an important in the county’s economy. He said that his County Government recognises the role potato farming plays and will continue to support it in his bid to make “Meru County great”.
Left: Meru Governor, H.E Kiraitu Murungi and other dignitaries at one of the demonstration plot during the event. Right: A section of the exhibition booths at the event.
Potato Production package
The event saw six potato farm input and service companies namely, African Farms and Market Ltd (AFMA), Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK) & Crop Life, Baraka fertilizer, Corteva Agriscience, Cropnuts, and UPL/Arysta come together to offer a Potato Production Package (PPP) to farmers participating at the event. The package was made up of nine selected farm inputs and services that were sold at a discount of up to 15%. The products ranged from In order to benefit from the promotion, farmers received and registered promotion vouchers at the PPP tent. During the purchase of any of the promotional items, farmers will present the vouchers at the specified Agrovets in the region and will get discounts on the selling price of the inputs. The vouchers have a three months validity period.
The farmers present received the vouchers positively with at least three hundred of them registering the vouchers each having nine discounted products. Click here to view the products that were on offer.
Farmers registering their Potato Production Promotion vouchers at the event.
