News on Potato Varieties and Seed from Africa

August 30, 2017

International Potato Center sees opportunities in Eastern Rwanda for clean potato seed production

Experts in potato breeding and research have identified Eastern Province of Rwanda as a potential alternative for clean potato seed production.

August 10, 2017

Potato research in Eritrea results in suitable disease resistant variety

Potato Research in Eritrea has come up with a suitable disease resistant variety. The farmers selected to test the new variety, called for distribution to all farmers.

June 19, 2017

Potato Cyst Nematodes threaten crop in Kenya

A survey done in 20 counties in Kenya released earlier this month, shows that Potato Cyst Nematode infestation has reached 80 to 100 per cent in some of the potato growing areas.

May 02, 2017

The potential of hybrid potato cultivars in East Africa

The Food & Business Knowledge Platform - a knowledge platforms focused on food security initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs - supported a fact-finding mission in East Africa to explore the potential of the usage of hybrid true potato seeds (TPS) for this region

Potato supplier HZPC and its distributor Wesgrow charged by South African Competition Commission

April 10, 2017

Potato supplier HZPC and its distributor Wesgrow Seed Potatoes are charged by the South African Competition Commission

South Africa’s competition watchdog (Competition Commission South Africa) has charged the Dutch seed potato breeder HZPC Holland B.V. and its exclusive South African distributor Wesgrow Potatoes for anti-competitve conduct for the exclusive supply of the variety Mondial.

March 17, 2017

Farmers in Tanzania benefit from more resilient potato varieties

Situated in the Northeast of Tanzania, the district of Lushoto is part of the so called highlands of Tanzania where potatoes are traditionally grown. Due to heat and lack of resilient potato varieties, farmers would often lose all the crop.

March 15, 2017

Potato Processors in Kenya contract 23,000 farmers to meet consumer demand

Some 23,000 farmers in 13 potato-producing counties in Kenya have signed contracts with various potato processing companies in the country to buy the produce to supply enough food to consumers.

November 18, 2016

Major Seed Potato Supply deal signed between Scotland and Kenya

A bilateral trade deal between Scotland and Kenya opens up the Kenyan Potato market to the import of Scottish Seed potatoes

September 09, 2016

Potato Processors Kenya initiate contract farming to deal with shortage of potatoes for processing

In a sign of a maturing market, two potato processing companies in Kenya - Tropical Heat - a snack manufacturer - and Sereni Fries said they will sign contracts with growers to supply 600 tonnes of potatoes every month in order to assure their supply of potatoes suitable for processing.

July 28, 2016

Nyandarua (Kenya) signs agreement with German government to boost potato production

The Nyandarua county Government (Kenya) has entered into a partnership with the German Government to help boost its potato production.

June 19, 2016

Kenya, Netherlands in deal to boost potato yield

Kenya is set to launch new varieties of potatoes that will boost quality and yield.

June 18, 2016

Tanzania signs agreement with The Netherlands to boost Potato Production

Potato growers in Tanzania stand to benefit from a new agreement between Netherlands and Tanzania, targeting to help farmers in the country boost the tubers production as well as being provided with potential market outlets abroad.

June 10, 2016

USD4.5m invested in potato farming in Zambia

Social impact investor and project developer AGDEVCO has invested in a US$4.5 million partnership with Saise Farming Enterprises Limited (SFEL) to produce potato seed for smallholder farmers in Northern Province of Zambia.

May 17, 2016

Rwanda demand for quality seed potatoes exceeds supply

Farmers of Irish potatoes in Rwanda are decrying not only the shortage of quality seeds but also the mounting prices.

January 31, 2016

Uganda field trial shows extreme resistance to late blight by GM potato

In Uganda, a series of field trials began in 2015 to assess whether twelve highly resistant GM plants of the ‘Desiree’ and local ‘Victoria’ variety provided by the International Potato Center CIP offer a durable resistance to late blight

September 20, 2015

Potato Value Chain Africa website to be launched at Eldoret Agri-Trade Fair, Kenya

The Dutch Embassy in Kenya will next week launch the Potato Value Chain Africa website at the Eldoret Agri-Trade Fair, in a bid to support farmers in the country.

Christine Nashuru, a successful grower of clean seed potatoes in Kenya in her field

January 20, 2015

Kenya: Losses due to poor potato farming methods

Kenya loses Sh19 billion annually due to poor production and processing of potatoes, a 2014 study has revealed.

January 04, 2015

Nyandarua (Kenya) to introduce potato varieties suitable for processing

The Nyandarua government is partnering with the National Potato Council and German organisation GTZ to introduce varieties of potatoes suitable for processing

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