Potato Review

50 POTATO REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2021 INTERNATIONAL NEWS NPCK training in six counties THE National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) and partners conducted demonstration and farmer training in six major potato producing counties recently, with the goal of showcasing di erent technologies/ innovations and GAPs for potato production. The partners involved included Agrico EA, Cropnuts, Baraka, Amiran, Fanisi, Omnia, UPL, Corteva, Bayer, Osho chemicals, Lachlan, Amiran, AAK and Hygrotech. More than 400 potato farmers were trained in the six counties (Meru, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok and Elgeyo Marakwet) on recommended practices such as; soil testing services, seeds selection and use of quality seeds, crop nutrition, crop protection spray service provision and use of Viazi soko platform to access quality inputs and services. The county potato liaison o cers and ward agricultural o cers also participated in the training where they sensitized farmers on the potato regulations 2019 and other county strategies in place for promoting potato production. The photo shows a UPL representative training farmers on crop protection in Nakuru County, Molo. Kenya’s potato production to hit 2.5 million tons this year POTATO production in Kenya could reach 2.5 million tons in 2021, up from the estimated 2 million tons produced in 2020, according to industry o cials. CEO of National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), Wachira Kaguongo, said both production and demand were a ected by the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Wachira said most of the country’s production is cultivated under rain-fed conditions, leading to increased vulnerability to erratic weather conditions. He called for the prioritisation of the crop, which is highly productive, as it can be harvested twice a year. He said Kenya has the potential to significantly increase its overall production of the crop but faces a myriad of challenges. According to NPCK, potato is the second staple crop after maize and it plays an important role in food security through the promotion of diversification of the Kenyan diet. Source: africa.cgtn.com Regulations to thwart exploitation NAKURU County Agriculture Department has drafted new regulations aimed at protecting Irish potato farmers from exploitation by middlemen. All the 11 sub-county police commanders in the county have promised to help enforce the new regulations that will see the maximum weight per unit package pegged at 50kg. Nakuru County Agriculture Executive Immaculate Maina told Nation the County Potato Regulation Secretariat comprises county commissioner, county police commandant, finance department, attorney and trade department. “Sub-county and ward potato regulation teams will also be formed at the grassroots where sub-county police commanders will play a crucial role in enforcing the regulations,” said Dr Maina. She said the teams will plan for joint enforcement in their areas and report back the progress to the County Potato Regulation Secretariat which will come up with a common levy in all entry points.