According to reports United States based chemical and seed council; Corteva Agriscience has signed an agreement with the National Potato Council of Kenya. With this partnership improved agricultural technologies will be brought into the East African Nation of Kenya.
Kenya is currently a net importer of potatoes, especially potatoes from Tanzania, as a result of farming practices that are not yet at par with the standards attainable today.
These technologies are expected to help small scale farmers and potato farmers alike to further improve and boost their agricultural productivity with regards to Potato farming, quality of the seeds, improved varieties that are also resilient.
Farmer will in addition, be brought to speed on the latest pest and disease management techniques and record keeping, alongside the best management practices with regards to post-harvest.
A total of seven (7) plots between April 2020 and September 2020 have been put together in Olkalau, Ainabkoi, Kinangop, Bomet Central, Kieni East, Mau Narok, and Kieni West.
More than four hundred (400) farmers have undergone training in services that have to do with soil testing, seed selection, technology used in apical cutting, the provision of spray services, crop protection, crop nutrition and the use of quality seeds that have been certified.
The Potato industry as at the time of writing this article, contributing around 30 million dollars (3.3 billion Kenyan Shillings) to the Kenyan Economy, and providing jobs to more than 3.3 million individuals which also include 800,000 smallholder farmers.
Potatoes. Image From NDTV Food. food.ndtv.com
The average potato farmer in Kenya currently produces around seven (7) tonnes per hectare. This is a far cry from the fifty (50) tonnes per hectare attainable in other countries, according to Kenyan Wallstreet.
Thanks to the new farming practices that will be brought on by Corteva Agriscience, all small scale farmers in Kenya be able to produce up to 20 tonnes per hectare.
Francis Karanja who is Corteva Agriscience Sales Leader, Crop Protection in East Africa revealed that Corteva Agriscience will be looking to increase incomes earned by farmers, productivity, and ensuring that the farming practices of farmers in Kenya, are significantly improved.
The technology which will be introduced by Corteva Agriscience will ensure that farmers will be much more equipped and ready to deal with diseases of a fungal nature.
An officer at the National Potato Council of Kenya; Wachira Kagoungo revealed that the numerous challenges encountered by potato farmers in Kenya can only be solved by adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach which will most definitely bring all the shareholders in the Potato farming sector together.
He added that, “Our objective at the council is to assist farmers produce high yields per hectare, free of diseases and pests. Our role will be to mobilize potato farmers and other stakeholders in the potato value chain to benefit from this technology and other measures aimed at increasing small holders’ incomes.”
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