Potato farming in Kenya is one of the most profitable agricultural ventures in the country. The main areas where potatoes are grown are the highland regions, including Kiambu, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu. Other regions, like Nyandarua, Nyeri, West Pokot, and Keiyo Marakwet, also contribute significantly to potato production. After maize, potatoes are the second most important food crop in Kenya.
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| Potato Farming in Kenya |
As Kenya continues to urbanize, the demand for potatoes is expected to keep growing. Potatoes are favored because they are affordable and easy to cook, which makes them popular in fast-food businesses. Potatoes are not only used to make chips (French fries) but also play a role in the production of alcoholic beverages, animal feed, and food-thickening agents.
Markies variety is best preferred by the big, high-end establishment like Java, Art Cafe, Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn among others for it's yellow skin and flesh, and it's high frying quality; absorbing oil well when fried. This is a huge profitable opportunity for the potato farmer in Kenya to try and penetrate.
In the industrial sector, potatoes are also used in the textile industry to make boards and paper. Additionally, potato peelings and stems are used to make animal feed. Farmers can even use waste products to produce biogas, which is an eco-friendly alternative to energy.
Selecting The Right Variety in Potato Farming
The purpose of the potato should determine the type you select. Choose crisps with lengthy dormancy and shallow eyes, such as Sherekea, Royal, or Dutch Robijin. For chips, yellow-skinned types including Shangi, Laura, and Challenger are good due to their high starch content. On the other hand Chuluy, Annet and Jelly potatoes are best for mashed potato dishes.
Potato Farming: Establishment
Select a high quality or yielding potato varieties when establishing your potato farm like the Sherekea variety that can yield up to 160 bags per acre, while the Kenya Mpya variety produces around 140 bags per acre. Making good choices will ensure success.
In order to control pests and diseases, ensure to carry out good farming practices that will also help you take good care of your crops to get a bumper harvest. These are proper land preparation, spacing for the tubers, pest management, weeding and market timing.
You can grow more on your farm for continuous flow of incoming from fruit farming too: See Soursop (Matomoko) Farming in Kenya: How to Take Advantage of the Increasing Demand
Land Preparation for Potato Farming
Potatoes do well in places with rainfall range of 850–1200mm each year and an altitude of 1400–3000m. Also, note to avoid planting potatoes on land previously used for tomatoes and planting on the same land two seasons in a row to reducing or control diseases. Soil testing should be done to know the soil composition, the pH levels, nutrient content and potential pests or diseases to avoid problems and save money on unnecessary fertilizers.
Preparing Your Land for Potato Planting
In land preparation, the soil should be well-prepared, with raised seedbeds for better drainage and uniform tuber growth. Remove any organic material that decomposes slowly to avoid attracting pests, and plow your land to a depth of at least 20 cm with no large soil particles.
Always buy your certified potato seed varieties from trusted suppliers listed by the National Potato Council of Kenya like Shangi, Sherekea and Wanjiku. Remember that good-quality seeds will help reduce diseases and improve yields.
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| Potato Farming in Kenya |
Planting Potatoes
Plant potatoes when the rains begin. Space the seeds about 30 cm apart with the sprouts facing upward. The furrow depth should be between 8–12 cm to allow for a tuber population of around 18,000 per acre. Planting in ridges that are 25 cm high to prevent tuber greening and make harvesting even easier.
Fertilizer Application for Potatoes
Potatoes require nutrients like nitrogen for growth, potassium to fight diseases, calcium for strong cell walls and sulfur for better yields, therefore fertilization should be guided by the soil test results. Organic fertilizers can help improve soil quality, while inorganic fertilizers like diammonium phosphate (18:46:20) are also effective.
A balanced fertilizer approach is important. Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers, for example, can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of tuber development.
READ ALSO ON: A Detailed Guide on Tomato Farming in Kenya
Farm Management in Potato Farming
Start weeding at least two weeks after planting. Weeds compete with the potatoes for nutrients and moisture, which can lead to poor yields. Weeding can be done manually or with herbicides—just make sure to test the herbicide on a small area first. Proper water management is also crucial, with potatoes requiring about 400mm–800mm of water during the growing season.
Mulching helps retain moisture, but be careful not to overwater or underwater, as this can cause tuber deformities. Drip or sprinkler irrigation is recommended over furrow irrigation to avoid soil dampness and disease.
Ridging (adding soil around the plants) is important for aeration and to prevent tuber greening. Do this during weeding, but avoid it when the soil is wet to prevent spreading fungal diseases.
Pests and Diseases in Potato Farming
Potato farming can be difficult due to illnesses including late blight, early blight, bacterial wilt, and black scurf, as well as pests such as aphids, cutworms, and potato tuber moths. Regular monitoring, crop rotation, and the use of fungicides and pesticides will help to control these issues. Early diagnosis and prompt response are critical to avoiding large losses.
Potato Farming: Storage
After harvesting your potatoes storage is critical for reducing post-harvest losses. Farmers can choose between local storage methods or more advanced options like cold storage. Cold storage can keep potatoes fresh for up to a year if the temperature is kept around 4°C, and the room remains dark.
Profitability in Potato Farming
Profits from potato growing can range from Ksh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000 per acre. Profits are influenced by a number of factors, including the type of crop you plant, when to sell, and how well you run the farm. The Shangi cultivar, for example, can produce 30–40 tons per acre, potentially earning Ksh 250,000–300,000 per acre.
To avoid losses when selling your potatoes you also need to get a good understanding of the market trends. For example, during the low season, a bag of potatoes might sell for as little as Ksh. 500 but during the off-season, the price could jump to Ksh 3,000 or more.
As a farmer you must also be aware of diseases like bacterial wilt, powdery mildew and black leg disease, as well as proper potato storage methods to reduce post-harvest losses.
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| Potato Farming |
Frequently Asked Questions on Potato Farming in Kenya
How much does it cost to plant 1 acre of potatoes in Kenya?
How long do potatoes take to grow in Kenya?
How many bags of potatoes can one acre produce?
How much is a 50kg bag of potatoes in Kenya?
How profitable is potato farming in Kenya?
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