On February 18, IFDC hosted a national close-out workshop for the Potato Value Chain Capacity Building (PCB) project in Nairobi. The six-year initiative, funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya and implemented from 2018 to 2025 in Nyandarua County, has significantly strengthened Kenya’s potato sector.
The workshop brought together farmers and other key participants from the government, the private sector, and development organizations to review the project’s achievements and explore future opportunities for scaling successful interventions.
The PCB project has driven remarkable improvements in Kenya’s potato industry, positively impacting over 6,500 smallholder farmers directly and another over 12,000 indirectly. Through the adoption of improved potato production technologies, over 2,900 farmers saw yield increases of up to 60%. Contract farming linked 900 smallholder farmers to buyers, facilitating the sale of 250 metric tons of potatoes valued at nearly $50,000. Additionally, over €300,000 Euros (approximately $315,397.50 U.S.) was mobilized to enhance access to certified seed.
“The PCB project has increased productivity, improved market access, and promoted sustainable farming. More than boosting yields, it has empowered farmers with the knowledge and resources to sustain their livelihoods.”
Bridget Okumu, IFDC Kenya Country Director
The project also demonstrated the importance of public-private partnerships in the delivery of certified seed, extension services, and soil health technologies to farmers as well as in the construction of storage facilities.
These efforts, strengthened by disease management initiatives and improved access to financing, have not only boosted productivity but also enhanced the resilience of Kenya’s potato sector.
Reflecting on the project’s impact, IFDC Kenya Country Director Bridget Okumu highlighted key milestones, including the establishment of a ware potato storage facility at Pesi Farmers’ Cooperative Society, development of a county agricultural communications strategy, and improved access to clean seed. Additionally, the project facilitated the registration of three new potato varieties – Java, Maverick, and Buffalo – offering farmers better yield potential and disease resistance.
“The PCB project has increased productivity, improved market access, and promoted sustainable farming. More than boosting yields, it has empowered farmers with the knowledge and resources to sustain their livelihoods,” Okumu stated.
The Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Ireland, Evelyn Maris, emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving tangible results. “This project is about more than just statistics; it is about real people and real change. Smallholder farmers, many of them women, have more than doubled their productivity from 1.7 to 4.5 metric tons per hectare. This directly translates to increased incomes and better livelihoods,” she noted.
Maris also acknowledged that while progress has been made, access to certified seed remains a challenge. She recognized the critical role of national research institutions such as the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), whose expertise in seed development and quality control was instrumental to the project’s success.
Nyandarua County, a leading potato producer in Kenya and primary PCB beneficiary, has witnessed significant transformation, largely through the Farmer Field Business School (FFBS) model. Francis Miring’u, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, highlighted how the FFBS model played a crucial role in shifting farmers’ mindsets from traditional subsistence farming to agribusiness.
“The FFBS model allowed farmers to learn practical business skills on their own farms, improving productivity and profitability,” he stated. This successful model integrated sustainable agricultural practices, market engagement, gender and youth inclusion, food and nutrition security, and group empowerment.
Recognizing the importance of soil health in agricultural development, the Agriculture Secretary at the State Department for Agriculture, Collins Marangu, stressed that without proper soil management, even high yielding potato varieties cannot reach their full potential. Knowing that soil health is a key factor to agricultural development, the PCB project organized field days for farmers to learn about yield-enhancing technologies, nutrition, and other relevant topics.
To enhance market access, the PCB project introduced Viazi Soko (Swahili for “Potato Marketplace”), a digital platform that connects farmers to input suppliers and buyers. Farmers can now pre-order certified seed by paying 20% of the cost upfront, securing high-quality inputs at competitive prices. This initiative has improved economies of scale and ensured timely access to essential farm supplies.
To improve post-harvest losses, the PCB project established the modern, newly constructed 120 metric ton ware potato storage facility at Pesi Farmers’ Cooperative Society. IFDC is working with the Warehouse Receipt System Council to certify the facility. Once operational, the warehouse will enable farmers to store their produce securely, use warehouse receipts as collateral to secure loans from financial institutions, and sell their potatoes when market prices are favorable. This will reduce post-harvest losses from the current rate of 40% to as low as 10%.
The PCB project also played a critical role in supporting the development and implementation of key policies, including the Crops (Irish Potato) Regulations (2019), Variety Release and Registration, and Seed Certification. These policies have enhanced farmers’ ability to sell their produce by providing structure to the previously unregulated sector and improving access to high-quality seed.
Veyrl Adell, the Market Systems Director at IFDC, underscored the potential for scaling the project’s successes beyond Nyandarua. “The PCB project has proven that coordinated interventions in agriculture can significantly enhance food security and create employment. Now, we call on like-minded partners to help us take these learnings to the next level, across Kenya and beyond,” she urged.
As the PCB project concludes, its impact will continue to shape Kenya’s potato sector for years to come. For example, PCB partner farmer Tabitha Wanjiru started on one small plot, but with PCB’s support and training, she adopted modern farming techniques, such as appropriate fertilizer use and intentional seed selection, to increase her yields and income. Now she helps train other farmers, especially women and youth, on what she learned. Tabitha remarked of her success, “I now see farming not just as a job but as a way to inspire and empower others.” Success stories from Tabitha and other PCB farmers serve as models for replication in other regions, ensuring that more farmers can benefit from innovative approaches that enhance productivity, resilience, and profitability.
With strong partnerships and continued investment in research and technology, including advanced potato seed technologies such as apical cuttings and hybrid true potato seed, Kenya’s potato industry is well positioned to drive economic growth and food security, not just locally, but across the region.
The PCB project (2018-2024), funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya, was designed to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and families through the adoption of new technologies, including certified potato seed and new varieties, good agricultural practices (GAPs), improved farm management skills, and market access.
