TRADE AND MARKETING Dutch seed improves Kenyan potato chain KENYA IS AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE FOR THE DUTCH POTATO SECTOR vation practices, poor seed and marginal crop protection don’t produce the best potatoes, and with an average yield of 8 tons per hectare, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to provide for the country’s population. Its dependence on imports is increasing. Hans Peeten (Nivap, 2nd left): ‘One of the most important bottlenecks for improving the Kenyan potato sector is the lack of healthy planting stock of suitable varieties for both the fresh market and the processing industry. The core business of the Dutch seed potato sector is the export of high-quality seed from a wide range of modern varieties. For decades, the Netherlands has successfully contributed towards the development of the potato sector worldwide in over 80 countries under the most diverse growing conditions. East Africa, and Kenya, in particular, has shown widespread interest for the professionalisation of the potato chain. After maize, the potato has developed into the second most important food crop in Kenya in the past decade, and is therefore of strategic importance for food security and an interesting challenge for the Dutch potato sector. At the same time, the country is prospering, as are all African countries. Consumption is increasing and to be self-supporting is the primary wish of the government. For that reason, in 2011, the former Minister of Agriculture was responsive to the offer of Henk Bleker, Dutch Junior Minister for Agriculture, to use the Dutch sector to professionalise the Kenyan potato chain. The present Minister, Felix Koskei, continued this policy in full and, in the presence of Lillianne Ploumen, Minister for Development Cooperation, who visited Kenya in October 2013, announced collaboration ‘without any limits’. Potato Platform Kenya, a Kenyan-Dutch project, in which both governments, private sectors and knowledge institutes work together, has just entered its third year. Progress has been achieved in the first two years, starting with the registration of 13 new varieties, the multiplication of Dutch seed in Kenya, and a campaign to inform the chain of the advantages of Dutch certified seed. The next step was taken recently with the ‘Netherlands Agro & Trade Mission to Kenya’ in January 2014.The mission, which included 15 entrepreneurs and a number of specialists, visited farmers, trial fields and processers and introduced the sector to the Kenyan agricultural organisations and entrepreneurs in the chain. It was evident that the project was taken seriously by the Kenyan officials by the way the delegation was received by Minister Koskei, who insisted in giving the kick off of the tour himself, hereby giving the mission the necessary impetus. Meanwhile, the Dutch varieties are proving their worth in the demonstration fields by producing up to 35 tons per hectare, and that news is now reaching the Kenyan farmers. The market for seed, know-how and training, mechanisation, storage, processing and logistic links seems to be opening. The opportunity to collaborate with Kenyan partners and to contribute to the ultimate aim, the enhancement of food security, is presenting itself. Financing often the stumbling block Mr Felix Koskei (c), Minister of Agriculture insisted that he meet the members of the mission in advance. Attracted by the favourable climate, the abundant labour supply and the available space, many flower and vegetable growers have moved to Kenya. These farms are often widely organised, are now rooted in that country, and could play an important role in the local multiplication of Dutch seed. This isn’t easy though because, although some companies are affiliated to the project as partners, they have run into problems. Accustomed as the farmers are to using part of the harvest anew in order to save even on the cheap Kenyan seed, small farmers are not easily changing over to the more expensive, certified seed. We appreciate the plus points of much bigger yields and a better and more varied quality leading to more possibilities for use, but many Kenyan farmers cannot or dare not make the small extra investment. For them, the cost appears more important than the benefit. For years, the lack of 16 Potato World 2014 • number 3 Pagina 15
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