News on Potato Varieties and Seed from Africa

Rwandan entrepreneur Apollinaire Karegeya is growing potatoes without soil and with little water.

December 04, 2020

Aeroponics: growing potatoes in the air - agricultural innovation in Rwanda

A Rwandan entrepreneur is pioneering the use of innovative farming technology that, he believes, is set to play a major role in feeding the growing population in his country, amid increasing pressure on arable land.

October 16, 2020

Report: The potato value chain in Morocco

The Wageningen Research Foundation (WR), being subsidised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the context of the Policy Support 'Sustainable agricultural development in a food system approach' published a study on the potato value chain in Morocco.

October 16, 2020

First True Potato Seed (TPS) Trial of Solynta and Solidaridad in Mozambique Shows Great Potential

A first pilot using True Potato Seed (TPS) in Angonia District, Tete province in Mozambique, conducted by Solidaridad and Solynta shows great potential to drastically improve and innovate potato production in Mozambique.

September 29, 2020

Zimbabwe starts seed potato multiplication to reduce the need for imports

The government of Zimbabwe, in conjunction with Kutsaga Research Station has embarked on a seed potato multiplication programme from mini-tuber to commercial seed potato.

The National Potato Council of Kenya and Corteva Agriscience have embarked on plans to increase yield among smallholder farmers from 7 tonnes to 20 tonnes per hectare.

September 25, 2020

National Potato Council of Kenya partners with Corteva Agriscience aiming to increase yields

The partnership targets to introduce new technologies and train smallholder farmers on how to improve potato yields through the use of quality seeds, resilient varieties, disease management and post-harvest management.

April 16, 2020

World Potato Congress Webinar: Dr. Monica Parker present 'Diversified Use of Apical Cuttings to Boost Potato Seed Systems'

Addressing seed shortages for potato is a perennial challenge in many potato-producing countries. Potato seed systems rely on several successive generations of bulking seed tubers to produce commercial seed.

Kenya: Government approves high yield potato seeds

February 25, 2020

Kenya: 'high input' approach potato cultivation pays off

In Kenya, potatoes are a key staple food, second only to maize. Yet its potato value chain has been underdeveloped for decades also. This has been acknowledged by the Kenyan government.

January 06, 2020

Rwanda pilots 'revolutionary' potato seeds

The Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) has started testing True Potato Seeds, which are produced by Solynta, a Dutch firm that develops hybrid potatoes. True Potato Seeds are collected from the berries or fruits of the potato plant.

December 12, 2019

Western Australian delegation visits Egypt to assess export opportunities seed potatoes

A trade delegation including Western Australian (WA) potato industry leaders toured Egypt in November, confirming the potential to export at least 10,000 tonnes of seed potatoes.

Insufficient seed inspectors lead to potato seeds scarcity –RAB

October 31, 2019

Insufficient seed inspectors lead to potato seeds scarcity, says Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)

Rwanda needs about 35,000 tons of quality potato seeds to cover 25 percent of total cultivated land in each growing season. The targeted quantity to fill the existing gap is 60 percent despite persisting challenges.

August 30, 2019

World Potato Congress Inc partner of the African Potato Association at the triennial conference in Kigali, Rwanda

During his presentation at the official opening of the 11th African Potato Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, World Potato Congress President Romain Cools announced the continuous effort of his organization to be a partner of the African potato sector.

August 27, 2019

Potato organizations seek to leverage potatoes to address malnutrition in Africa

Potato organizations on Monday called for deliberate efforts to increase potato and sweet potatoes production for sustainable nutritious food systems in Africa.

July 09, 2019

Disease resistant potato seeds launched in Dedza

In an effort to combat diseases which have been hampering potato yields for the past two years in Dedza, International Potato Centre (CIP) recently handed over disease resistant Irish potato seeds to ten farmers in the district.

James Gachiri, a 29 years old farmer and the Secretary-General of the forum

June 03, 2019

Youth in Kenya embraces new technology in seed potato production

Despite being a trained accountant and currently pursuing a Bachelor in Commerce, James Gachiri had a desire to become a successful potato farmer.

May 29, 2019

Ethiopian farmers help researchers select potato varieties that the market demands

Potato is important to food security and a cash crop in Ethiopia with high potential to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, who account for 83% of the total population and hold 95% of agricultural land.

April 24, 2019

Potatoes prevent food crisis in Ethiopia and restore 'dignity and hope'

Irish potatoes have prevented another major humanitarian food crisis in one of the poorest and most remote parts of Ethiopia, according to aid organization Concern Worldwide.

March 26, 2019

Bad seed potato imports hit Kenyan farmers ahead of the rainy season

Kenyan farmers are facing a shortage of certified seed potatoes following the rejection of 78 percent of the planting materials that had been imported last year.

February 18, 2019

Despite potato shortage in Kenya, Nyandarua County potato farmers hardly benefit

An acute shortage of potatoes has hit Nyandarua County, a top producer of potatoes in Kenya and in fact, the entire country is suffering from a shortage.

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