LAIKIPIA, Kenya — The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has intensified efforts to strengthen Kenya’s seed potato value chain by training extension officers, lead farmers and students in Laikipia County on the production of high-quality, disease-free seed potatoes using Rooted Apical Cuttings (RACs) technology.
The three-day technical backstopping programme, led by experts from the KALRO Tigoni Centre, is aimed at expanding access to certified seed potatoes, improving crop productivity and enhancing food and nutrition security through climate-smart agricultural practices.
Speaking during the training, KALRO Tigoni Centre Director Dr. Susan Otieno said strong seed systems are essential to increasing potato yields, improving farmer incomes and enhancing national food security.
“Quality seed systems are key to improving potato productivity, farmer incomes and food security,” Dr. Otieno said.
According to KALRO, participants were equipped with practical skills that will enable them to produce quality seed potatoes and transfer the knowledge to farming communities across Laikipia County.
The organisation said the wider adoption of RAC technology is expected to improve farmers’ access to certified planting materials, increase productivity and strengthen the resilience of Kenya’s potato sector.
The training combined classroom instruction with hands-on demonstrations covering tissue culture, greenhouse management, crop protection, agronomy and seed systems.
KALRO said the multidisciplinary approach is designed to build local technical capacity while promoting sustainable seed production practices and long-term partnerships within the potato value chain.
The institution noted that strengthening local expertise in certified seed production will support the competitiveness of Kenya’s potato industry while contributing to higher agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for farmers.
