What changed
Tanzania’s Potato Council and Kenya’s National Potato Council have signed a five-year agreement to improve potato production, seed quality, standards, research and cross-border trade.
The partnership, signed at the World Potato Congress in Naivasha, focuses on:
- Sharing farming and seed-production technology
- Improving quality assurance and phytosanitary standards
- Connecting cooperatives with processors, traders and buyers
- Supporting research, training and on-farm trials
Why it matters
The deal targets the weakest link in both countries’ potato industries: reliable certified seed.
Kenya produces about 24,000 tonnes of certified seed against estimated demand of 150,000 tonnes. In Tanzania, certified seed meets roughly 2% of national demand. That shortage limits yields and makes it harder for farmers to supply processors and wider markets consistently.
The agreement’s emphasis on rooted cuttings, tissue culture and aeroponics gives the partnership a practical test. These technologies could expand access to cleaner planting material, while joint training and research may help turn that material into better farm results.
The scale is already significant. Tanzania produced 1.41 million tonnes of Irish potatoes in 2024/25, with Mbeya and Njombe accounting for about 85.1% of household output. Kenya produced 2.15 million tonnes in 2024, valued at 72.5 billion Kenyan shillings.
The promising part is the connection between production and markets. If the councils can link farmer organisations with buyers and processors, the agreement could help move potatoes from isolated farm production into a more coordinated regional trade. But its effect will depend on implementation: the deal does not yet specify funding, shipment volumes, timelines or regulatory approvals.
Comments
No comments yet.