Seed Potato Certification in Kenya: Prospects, Achievements and Constraints

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a crop of major economic importance worldwide and is considered the second most important food crop after maize in Kenya. National potato production ranges from 4.4 to 15 t/ha with an average of about 7 t/ha although yields of 40 t/ha are attainable under research conditions. The low yields are attributed to production constraints such as low soil fertility, diseases and the unavailability and high cost of inputs, mainly certified seed tubers. Improving the availability of certified disease-free seed potato of high varietal purity is therefore of paramount importance in ensuring optimum ware potato production. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) along with other stakeholders have supported the implementation of various interventions aimed at alleviating constraints in the seed supply system. These include: (i) seed certification; (ii) quality assurance of seed emanating from new technologies such as aeroponics; (iii) phytosanitary certification of approved seed imports from Europe; and (iv) adoption of modern techniques such as PCR for seed health testing. Together with the recently released varieties bred by Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and International Potato center (CIP), farmers are set to benefit from superior seed potato varieties imported from The Netherlands.