The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), in collaboration with the County Government of Nakuru, has rolled out a comprehensive initiative aimed at combating devastating potato diseases through enhanced surveillance, research, and farmer training programmes.
The initiative targets Blackleg (Pectobacterium spp.) and Soft Rot (Dickeya spp.), two bacterial diseases that continue to pose a major threat to Kenya’s potato subsector and are estimated to endanger the livelihoods of nearly one million smallholder farmers countrywide.
According to Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services, Mr Leonard Bor, a series of Plant Health Rallies (PHRs) designed to support potato farmers in selected potato-growing sub-counties have already been launched under the programme.
Mr Bor said the rallies are intended to raise awareness on plant health, strengthen disease surveillance at the grassroots, and equip farmers with practical skills to manage emerging and existing potato diseases. He noted that CABI, working closely with the county’s Department of Agriculture, will also organise field days and targeted training sessions for both agricultural extension officers and farmers.
“These activities will focus on effective disease management, early detection of infections, the importance of using certified seed, and the adoption of improved agronomic practices to boost yields,” said Bor.
Speaking while unveiling a training session for Ward Agricultural Officers, the CECM reiterated Nakuru County’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with CABI to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance productivity, and improve the livelihoods of potato farmers across the county.
CABI’s surveillance and capacity-building efforts under the initiative extend beyond Nakuru and cover several major potato-producing counties, including Elgeyo Marakwet, Meru, Narok, Nyandarua and Trans Nzoia.
Mr Bor disclosed that a team of scientists from CABI had earlier conducted extensive surveys across these counties to identify and map the distribution of Pectobacterium and Dickeya species responsible for Blackleg and Soft Rot, as well as Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, the bacterium that causes potato ring rot.
He said the findings from the surveys provide critical baseline data that will inform disease management strategies, seed certification processes, and policy interventions aimed at strengthening the potato value chain in Kenya.
“The collaboration with CABI seeks to build a stronger, more efficient and resilient potato production system, ensuring improved yields and enhanced national food security,” Bor stated.
He observed that the widespread practice of seed recycling among farmers has significantly contributed to the rapid spread of potato diseases across most traditional potato-producing regions, drastically reducing the availability of disease-free zones for quality seed production.
“Besides the low availability of clean seed, other factors such as poor agronomic practices, declining soil fertility, limited use of agro-inputs, abiotic stresses like drought, and high pest pressure continue to drive down potato yields,” Bor added.
The CECM emphasised that information generated through the project is vital for the timely detection and monitoring of target pathogens, preventing their introduction into new areas, or managing them effectively where they already exist. He noted that the data will also support market access and regional and international trade in potatoes.
“We hope the initiative will promote trading partners’ confidence by ensuring the availability of current and reliable information on the status of key potato pathogens in Kenya, updating the regulated pest list, and informing technically justifiable import requirements for potato products,” he said.
Potatoes remain a key crop in Kenya’s economy, contributing close to USD 30 million annually. The sector employs an estimated 3.3 million people, including about 800,000 smallholder farmers, most of whom are rural poor directly involved in production. The crop has been prioritised under the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy.
However, national potato production has declined steadily over the past decade, with yields dropping from about 22 tonnes per hectare in 2008 to approximately 8.6 tonnes per hectare in 2018. Although Kenya ranks as the fourth-largest potato producer in Africa after Algeria, Egypt and South Africa, it records the lowest yield per unit area among these countries.
According to CABI, pests and diseases account for up to 80 per cent of production losses, threatening both seed availability and food security. Many of the diseases are difficult and costly to manage, while information on their distribution, severity and impact remains limited.
Potato is Kenya’s second most produced crop after maize, with an average annual output of about 1.35 million tonnes. The crop is grown by roughly 800,000 farmers across counties including Bomet, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Meru, Murang’a, Nakuru, Narok, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot.
A CABI report notes that declining yields are largely attributed to the high incidence of seed- and soil-borne pests and diseases. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ranks Kenya 33rd globally among 155 potato-producing countries, but the country has recorded a steady production decline in recent years.
In 2022, Kenya produced about 1.745 million tonnes of potatoes against a global output of 374.8 million tonnes. While global potato production increased by 0.3 per cent that year, Kenya’s output fell from 2.1 million tonnes in 2021 to 1.7 million tonnes in 2022. China leads global production, while Algeria tops production in Africa.
By Jane Ngugi
