The Meru County Irish Potato Strategy 2024-2028 has been officially approved during the county’s 16th Cabinet meeting. This strategic plan aims to revamp and enhance the potato subsector in Meru County by implementing targeted interventions and structured activities. The strategy is a collaborative effort, with key partners including:
- MoALD Meru County (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Development)
- NPCK (National Potato Council of Kenya)
- Solidaridad
- Konrad
- CIPAD (Center for Inclusive and Participatory Agricultural Development)
- AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa)
- KENAFF (Kenya National Farmers Federation)
Strategic Objectives:
- Enhanced Seed System: Improving the availability and quality of potato seeds to ensure better crop yields and disease resistance.
- Improved Potato Production: Implementing modern farming practices and technologies to boost overall potato production in the county.
- Access to Finance: Facilitating financial support for potato farmers to invest in quality inputs, equipment, and infrastructure.
- Improved Post-Harvest Handling: Introducing better methods and facilities for handling potatoes after harvest to reduce losses and maintain quality.
- Value Addition: Encouraging processing activities such as creating potato-based products, adding value to the raw produce.
- Marketing and Processing: Enhancing market access and developing processing capacities to ensure farmers get better returns and reduce dependency on fresh market sales.
This comprehensive strategy is set to bring transformative changes to the potato sector in Meru County, making it more sustainable, profitable, and resilient.
