A new program has been started by fertilizer manufacturer Yara East Africa to enhance potato farming in the nation through value addition.
In order to ensure that farmers can meet the requirements set by buyers, according to Yara Country Manager William Ngeno, the company is enlisting partners.
For his part, Steve Carlyon, president of the nearby potato processor Simplifine, has reassured local growers that there is a ready market for their products.
The National Potato Council of Kenya says after maize, potatoes are the country’s second-most important food and economic crop.
The crop is grown by about 800,000 smallholder farmers, providing 2.7 million jobs downstream and more than Sh50 billion in economic output. 10 tonnes are produced on average per hectare.
By 2026, this collaboration will help 30,000 potato farmers in Kenya, increasing yields by more than 50% and lowering post-harvest losses by at least 50%, resulting in prosperity for farming communities.
The knowledge gaps in agronomy, business, technology, and access to capital will all be filled.
Over 4,000 of Kenya’s 7,000 or so active agro-retailers are employed by Yara. This guarantees that farmers all over the nation receive the essential crop nutrition formulations.
Additionally, the business collaborates with 3,500 MSMEs and two million smallholder farmers to produce enough staple crops to feed 10 million people.
