Taita Taveta County is seeking to raise farmers income and create jobs by improving Irish potato productivity and market access, as Kenya works to address production challenges and expand the crop’s economic potential.

The County has 750 hectares under Irish potato cultivation, producing an estimated 11,250 tonnes annually at an average yield of 15 tonnes per hectare, with an estimated value of Sh562.5 million.

County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture (CECM), Dawson Katuu Mzenge, said the crop presented an opportunity to strengthen household incomes, improve food security and expand employment, particularly among women  and youth.

“Irish potato farming is yet another opportunity to improve household incomes, strengthen food security and create jobs, particularly for young people,” said Mzenge.

He said access to quality seeds, adoption of good farming practices and reliable markets would be critical to achieving the county’s agricultural objectives.

The County is pursuing these goals through farmer training, agricultural research and improved access to certified seeds, working with 21 established Irish potato farmer groups.

The National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), supports farmers with certified seeds through Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) and demonstration plots, where they learn improved crop management practices.

The initiatives are anchored on the County’s goal of “Chakula mezani, pesa mfukoni”, which seeks to translate agricultural production into better household incomes.

Gift Kisombe, an agripreneur from Wundanyi, who links farmers to seed suppliers, said access to quality planting material was essential to improving productivity.

“The success of Irish potato farming starts with access to certified seeds, and that’s what  I’ve ensured farmers have by linking them to seed suppliers,” he said.

Through the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), farmers can access varieties suited to different potato-growing zones, including Unica, Markies, Dutch Robijn, Kenya Mpya, Sheherekea and Shangi.

The County’s efforts come amid national concerns over declining potato production, inadequate supplies of certified seeds, crop diseases and weather-related losses.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, said Kenya produced approximately 2.2 million tonnes of Irish potatoes in 2024, valued at Sh72.5 billion.

The National Agriculture Production Report 2025 puts output at about 2.15 million tonnes, down from 2.31 million tonnes in 2023, partly due to unfavourable rainfall patterns and fungal diseases, including potato blight.

Limited processing capacity is another constraint, prompting calls for greater investment in seed production, research and processing to improve productivity and strengthen market opportunities for farmers.

These issues are central to the 13th World Potato Congress, officially opened by Kagwe in Naivasha, Nakuru County, which brings together international stakeholders to strengthen partnerships in potato production, food security, nutrition and trade.

By Arnold Linga Masila