18 March 2021
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Kenya’s potato production to hit 2.5 million tons this year
POTATO production in Kenya could reach 2.5 million tons in 2021, up from the estimated 2 million tons produced in 2020, according to industry officials.
CEO of National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), Wachira Kaguongo, said both production and demand were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Wachira said most of the country’s production is cultivated under rain-fed conditions, leading to increased vulnerability to erratic weather conditions. He called for the prioritisation of the crop, which is highly productive, as it can be harvested twice a year.
He said Kenya has the potential to significantly increase its overall production of the crop but faces a myriad of challenges. According to NPCK, potato is the second staple crop after maize and it plays an important role in food security through the promotion of diversification of the Kenyan diet.
Source: africa.cgtn.com
