Sweet potato, once considered a low-value subsistence crop in Nandi County, is gaining renewed prominence as farmers embrace it for both its economic potential and ecological resilience.
From the rolling hills of Songhor/Soba to the fertile valleys of Chemelil/Chemase, the crop is gradually gaining popularity and transforming the livelihoods of hundreds of households, securing food supplies, and supporting efforts toward climate-smart agriculture.
Traditionally, sweet potatoes were grown in small kitchen plots and consumed as a household food supplement in Tindiret. However, changing market trends, rising demand, and awareness of the crop’s nutritional value have elevated its status. Farmers are now cultivating sweet potatoes on larger plots, making it a commercial venture alongside maize, sugarcane, and tea.
According to Tindiret Sub County Agricultural Officer (SCAO) Samuel Kipkorir, over 2,000 acres in the sub-county are currently under sweet potato cultivation, with annual output estimated at 12,000 tonnes. He added that the crop is now ranked among the top three staples in the area.
In Chepswerta, for instance, Jane Chemutai, a smallholder farmer, has shifted part of her maize farm to sweet potatoes. She explained that the crop gives her more security compared to maize, saying that even when rains fail, she is sure of a harvest with sweet potatoes, which have become her family’s food basket and source of cash.
The sub-county’s diverse soils and favourable climate provide ideal conditions for sweet potato farming. The main growing zones include Songhor/Soba Ward, known for its alluvial soils and large-scale farms supplying both local markets and processors.
The Chemelil/Chemase Ward, which has sandy loam soils is ideal for orange-fleshed varieties; the Tinderet highlands, where cooler conditions support household and local trade production; and smaller settlements like Kapkures and Chebarus, where women’s groups are bulking seed and marketing tubers collectively.
The commercialisation of sweet potatoes is opening new economic opportunities for farmers. On average, one acre yields between 80 and 100 bags of 90 kilograms each. At a farm-gate price of about Sh. 1,200 per bag, a farmer earns between Sh. 96,000 and Sh. 120,000 per acre in a period of four to five months. This is significantly higher than maize, which often brings in less than Sh. 50,000 per acre and takes longer to mature.
In Kapkures, the Cheptuiyat Sweet Potato Cooperative, comprising 60 farmers, now pools harvests for direct sales to Kisumu and Eldoret. Cooperative chairperson David Ruto said the arrangement has doubled members’ incomes, noting that they no longer struggle with middlemen who used to exploit them, and as a group they fetch better prices and organise bulk transport.
Women and youth have especially benefited. Mercy Jepng’etich, a 27-year-old farmer from Chemase, observed that she started with a quarter-acre and has now expanded to two acres. She said sweet potatoes require little input and within four months she is harvesting, describing it as her best enterprise so far. Local demand remains strong, with tubers sold in Kapsabet, Nandi Hills, and smaller rural centres, while bulk buyers transport consignments to Kisumu, Nairobi, and even across the border to Uganda. The rise of agro-processors producing flour, crisps, and baked products has also created a ready outlet.
According to Nandi County Executive for Agriculture, Rebecca Kemei, the county is partnering with private firms to establish aggregation centres in Songhor and Chemase to improve market access. She added that the county government is encouraging farmers to grow orange-fleshed varieties for schools and hospitals, due to their high nutritional value.
Beyond economics, sweet potatoes contribute significantly to household nutrition and food security in Tindiret. Rich in carbohydrates, fibre, and vitamins, the crop is consumed boiled, roasted, or processed into flour for porridge.
The County Nutrition Officer, Dr Caroline Njoroge, stressed that orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are a game-changer in combating vitamin A deficiency among children and expectant mothers, noting that the county’s nutrition programmes now promote the crop in early childhood centres and health facilities.
Sweet potato farming is also proving to be an ally in ecological conservation. The crop’s dense canopy suppresses weeds, reducing the need for herbicides and conserving soil fertility. Its deep root system binds the soil, preventing erosion on Tindiret’s hilly terrain.
During dry spells, sweet potatoes are more drought-tolerant compared to maize, making them an essential climate adaptation strategy.
Extension officers report that vines enrich the soil when ploughed back, contributing organic matter and enhancing moisture retention. Farmers in Chebarus have adopted intercropping systems, combining sweet potatoes with legumes and maize. Ezekiel Kiplagat, a farmer practising intercropping, said it has reduced his fertiliser expenses and ensured that even if one crop fails, another sustains the family.
Despite the gains, sweet potato farmers face hurdles. Pests such as sweet potato weevils and viral diseases occasionally cut yields. Limited access to clean planting materials also hampers expansion, as many farmers rely on recycled vines prone to infection.
Market glut during peak seasons sometimes lowers prices, discouraging investment, while transport challenges from interior farms to major roads further erode profits. Farmers are calling for better storage and processing facilities to stabilise returns.
The county government, working with national agricultural agencies, has introduced programmes to boost sweet potato production in Tindiret. Improved varieties like Kabode and Vitaa are being distributed to farmers. The SCAO noted that training sessions on crop management, value addition, and cooperative marketing are ongoing. He emphasised that sweet potatoes are not just a fallback crop but a strategic food security pillar for the region.
Many farmers are optimistic. In Songhor area, Thomas Cheruiyot explained that shifting two acres from maize to sweet potatoes has improved his household income and reduced vulnerability to drought.
In Chemase, Beatrice Chepkemoi, who leads a women’s group, said the crop has empowered rural women, explaining that they are feeding their families, selling the surplus, and even paying school fees from sweet potato sales.
Youth in Kapkures are venturing into sweet potato farming with a focus on value addition—producing flour and crisps for local schools and shops. John Kiprotich, a 24-year-old entrepreneur, believes the crop is a bridge to business opportunities in a county where job options remain limited.
With growing recognition of its economic, nutritional, and ecological benefits, sweet potato farming is poised to become a cornerstone of agricultural transformation in Tindiret. Farmers, county officials, and development partners are aligning efforts to scale up production, improve market access, and enhance resilience in the face of climate change. The crop that once played a minor role in kitchen gardens is now reshaping household economies, boosting nutrition, and protecting the land.
By Sammy Mwibanda
