News on The Potato Supply Chain from Africa

July 04, 2021

AKILIMO digital platform improves potato yields in Rwanda

CIP and RAB are focusing their efforts in this area to release varieties that are high-yielding, pest and disease resistant, and climate-resilient.  But is this enough to overcome the low potato yields faced by Rwandan farmers?

June 24, 2021

Zimbabwe: Matabeleland South Potato Producer Laments Lockdown Induced Losses

The prolonged Covid-19 lockdown has brought more harm to potato production that any other crop being produced in Zimbabwe at the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) Trek Antelope Estate in Maphisa, Matabeleland South.

June 23, 2021

Re-educating Nigerian Potato growers: from farming as a culture to farming as a business

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has commenced training for Irish potato farmers in Kano. The training which began on Monday, June 21, will end on Friday, June 25, 2021.

June 22, 2021

Sudan: Two Projects Promoting Potato Production to Be Implemented

Potato cultivation has seen tremendous success in Sudan when productivity in some areas reached 28 tons an acre, like in the Alarqam Project of Western Omdurman here. The Meroe Dam Project (in Northern Sudan) has produced 20 tons per acre.

June 21, 2021

Catalyzing a greater supply of seed potato in Kenya

As a food security crop and cash crop, potato is a source of income for farmers, traders and sellers. In Kenya alone, potato creates employment for 2.5 million people along the value chain amounting to an estimated annual worth of USD 480 million.

June 21, 2021

Kenya: Potato imports by fast-food firms to attract 30pc duty

Major fast-food joints rely on imports from as far as Egypt and South Africa for the potatoes they use for French fries.

June 02, 2021

Kenya: Nyandarua cops impound eight lorries over defying potato regulation (too large bags)

Police in Nyandarua county have intercepted eight lorries carrying potatoes in extended bags contrary to the Crops (Irish Potatoes) Regulations 2019.

May 03, 2021

Malawi: Tobacco losing ground to potatoes

For decades, tobacco has been Malawi’s main foreign exchange earner. However, when he opened this year’s tobacco marketing season on Tuesday, president Lazarus Chakwera stunned his audience saying this industry is dying.

April 27, 2021

Demand for washed potatoes in Namibia not met by local supply

In Namibia, retailers and importing agents have spent NAD (Namibian Dollar) 120.1 million (USD 8.4 million) between 2019 and 2020 on importing washed potatoes to meet local demand.

April 27, 2021

New Potatoes South Africa awareness campaign highlights resilience

Potatoes South Africa (PSA) has launched a bold new awareness campaign in a bid to create perspective about the resilience and performance of the potato industry’s stakeholders in the country, especially in the context of South Africa recently marking the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 disruption.

March 16, 2021

Kenya’s potato production expected to hit 2.5 mln tonnes in 2021

Kenya’s potato production could hit 2.5 million tonnes in 2021 up from the estimated 2 million tonnes produced in 2020, the industry said on Friday.

Kenya seeks Sh656m for potato seed study

February 23, 2021

Kenya seeks funding for seed potato study

Kenya has applied for a Sh656 million grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to boost research on potato seed production and cut reliance on imports.

Nature-friendly farming reduces costs for potato farmer

February 11, 2021

Sustainable potato farming in South Africa reduces costs as well

Managing plant health and strict water monitoring have paved the way to success for AL 3 Boerdery in Dendron, Limpopo.

February 04, 2021

McCain Foods South Africa appoints new managing director

McCain Foods South Africa has appointed Unathi Mhlatyana as its new managing director (MD) effective yesterday. Mhlatyana brings more than 20 years experience in the FMCG industry, having previously been employed in leadership roles with Pepsico and SAB/AB InBev.

February 01, 2021

Willie Jacobs appointed as CEO of Potatoes South Africa (PSA)

Willie Jacobs took over the leadership of Potatoes Potatoes South Africa (PSA) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Dr. André Jooste, who as part of his career planning, left the organization after 9 years.

January 15, 2021

Researchers identified and characterized potato dry rot and potato wilt pathogens in Algeria

Among the 152 isolates collected from symptomatic potato plants and tubers in different provinces in Algeria, 13 species of Fusarium and Neocosmospora were identified.

Follow potato regulations now or risk jail – Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui

January 08, 2021

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui (Kenya) gets tough on potato regulations

The Nakuru County Government has announced that implementation of the potato regulations including the 50kg packaging rule is in force and must be adhered to immediately.

December 17, 2020

Why a new potato variety could be a game-changer for farmers in East Africa

Imagine being a potato farmer in Ethiopia, Kenya, or Nigeria. On a small piece of land, which you depend on for food and income, you have spent months planting, weeding, and watering.

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