s growing concern that certain potato seed varieties could be finding their way into the country through illegal channels, exposing Kenya’s potato industry to diseases and losses. While there is a shortage of high yielding and disease free potato seed varieties, there is a disagreement in the manner in which the Government is going about its importation procedures.
Available figures indicate that Kenya’s potato industry has an annual turnover of Sh46 billion and supports livelihoods of over three million farmers. At the centre of this importation of potato seeds is Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (Kephis), which is seen as lacking capacity to oversee seed production.
“We have issues with Kephis’ capacity and procedures. Importation of potatoes or any seeds should be guided by policy and focus to safeguard against entry of diseases — to avoid what has happened in the maize sector,” said Wachira Kaguongo, Chief Executive Officer, National Potato Council of Kenya.
Industry sources disclose that while the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskei had given an okay for some 39 varieties of potatoes to be imported, only eight have been approved and gazetted.
Under section 15(1) of the seeds and plant varieties Act (National Performance Trials) Regulations (2009), the Managing Director of Kephis is supposed to cause the names of the released varieties to be published in the Kenya Gazette within 14 days of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) meeting.
In a gazette notice No 781, under The Seeds and Plants Varieties Act, dated January 27, 2014 and signed by Kephis Managing Director James Onsando, several names of potato varieties were published.
Potato growing zones
The list of potato seeds include SARPO MIRA, MANITOU, SAVIOLA — all Irish potato seeds, imported by Danespo A/S and Agrico UA East Africa Ltd. These varieties are suitable for Timau, Tigoni, Molo, Narok, Bomet and Timboroa, Kenya’s key potato growing regions.
Dr Onsando, however, said it is not true that illegal potato seeds are being imported into the country, adding that this is against the law.
