The Nakuru County government has rolled out a series of climate-smart agricultural strategies aimed at enhancing potato production. These initiatives are designed to increase yields, improve farmers’ incomes, and strengthen food security, both locally and nationally. Potatoes are Kenya’s second most consumed and produced staple after maize, yet the sector has long been plagued by challenges ranging from lack of certified seeds to poor market access.
Key to Nakuru’s approach is equipping farmers with modern farming techniques and technologies to cushion them against the adverse effects of climate change. These include drought, floods, and pests, which are becoming more frequent and intense. The county is empowering its agricultural extension officers to train smallholder farmers on good agricultural practices that are climate-resilient. These measures aim to ensure consistent production and sustainability of potato farming.
In line with efforts to regulate the sector, the county is enforcing the Crops (Irish Potato) Regulations of 2019. These rules require traders to package potatoes in standard 50-kilogram bags. This regulation seeks to protect farmers from exploitation by unscrupulous middlemen who often purchase potatoes in larger extended bags, sometimes weighing up to 180 kilograms, at low prices and repackage them for profit. Violators of the regulation face heavy penalties, including fines and imprisonment, as the county intensifies enforcement.
Nakuru, the second-largest potato-producing county in Kenya after Nyandarua, cultivates the crop on over 38,000 acres, with around 20,000 farmers involved. However, production levels have stagnated at an average of seven tons per hectare, far below the crop’s potential of 40 tons. A key constraint is the shortage of certified seed. The country requires about 30,000 tons of certified potato seed annually, but Nakuru produces just 6,700 tons. Many farmers resort to recycling seeds from previous seasons, which reduces productivity and makes crops more susceptible to disease.
To address this, the county is collaborating with research institutions to enhance seed availability and tackle pests and soil-borne diseases. It is also promoting climate-smart innovations such as soil testing and proper soil management, improved agronomic practices, and post-harvest technologies. These interventions aim to strengthen every stage of the potato value chain—from production to marketing and value addition.
The county is also investing in youth by encouraging young farmers to develop innovative solutions within the potato value chain. During upcoming celebrations for the International Day of Potato, young innovators will have the opportunity to showcase their projects, with the top three receiving a combined prize of KES 325,000. This initiative not only recognizes the importance of youth in agriculture but also fosters creativity and modernization in the sector.
Nakuru’s strategy also includes forging public-private partnerships to open up new markets for farmers, both locally and internationally. This approach is designed to give farmers better prices and more stable incomes, especially as the county moves towards making agriculture more lucrative and resilient.
Through field days and farmer engagement forums, the county is actively disseminating information and building capacity to ensure that smallholder farmers can adopt and benefit from climate-smart practices. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to transforming potato farming into a viable economic activity, reducing rural poverty, and enhancing food and nutritional security across Kenya.
