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Impact of Quality Seed Potato Production in the Eastern Hills of Nepal
Binod Prasad Luitel (binodsan@yahoo.com) and Biremdra Bahadur Rana, National Horticulture Research Center Khumaltar and Janardhan Gautam, Agriculture Research Station, Ilam Background The potato is an important food crop of Nepal, contributing to food security in mountain regions. The potato was first introduced in Nepal by a British explorer in 1793 but it became popular after…
Read MoreDeveloping the Potato Value Chain in Kenya
Humphrey Mburu, MD at Sereni Fries Ltd (serenifries@gmail.com) Faith Aiyabei, Chief Agronomist at Sereni Fries Ltd Website: https://www.Serenifries.co.ke/ Background Potato (commonly referred to as Irish potato) is the second most important food crop in Kenya after maize. Potato production in Kenya is expected to grow. Farmers are being encouraged by the government to diversify their…
Read MoreEstablishing financially sustainable local seed supply systems in Ethiopia
Retta Worku (rworku@snv.org), senior advisor at SNV, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Gerrit Holtland, project manager, SNV, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Background The potato is the largest arable crop cultivated in Ethiopia covering 181,000 ha of land annually. Only 1.3% of the total seed potato is sold/transacted as certified seed fulfilling the Ethiopia Agricultural Authority’s standard. With the…
Read MoreChallenges and opportunities for seed availability and quality in Yemen
Mohammed Ali Muthanna Saleh (mmuthanna14@gmail.com), Dhamar University, Dhamar, Yemen Abdul-Allah Mohammed Dhaif-Allah, Dhamar First Center for seed potato, Dhamar, Yemen Peter VanderZaag, Sunrise Potato Systems Institute, Alliston, Canada Background Yemen has experienced nine years of war resulting in a humanitarian crisis for 65% of the population, increased prices for all commodities and scarcity of agricultural…
Read MoreWorld Potato Congress Inc. welcomes Blair Richardson as a Board Member
The World Potato Congress is pleased to announce our newest director to the WPC board. “We warmly welcome Blair Richardson as a new member of our Board of Directors,” says WPC President Dr. Peter VanderZaag. “Blair Richardson has played a pivotal role as an International Advisor to WPC over the past year. We are pleased that he…
Read MoreJoint Efforts Address Smallholder Potato Production in Northwestern Uganda
Claus Opio, Program Officer, ZODFA Peter Van Erum (Peter.van.erum@trias.Ngo), Regional Partnership Manager, Trias East Africa Background Potatoes are mainly grown in the higher altitude regions of southwestern Uganda but also in parts of the east and the northwest. One such area in the northwest is Zombo District in the West Nile subregion of Uganda. Zombo…
Read MoreMechanization improves potato production in Kenya
Christopher Gasperi, Ashley Gasperi (freshcropmarketing@gmail.com) & Brendan Ireland, FreshCrop Limited Shadrack Nyawade, International Potato Center (CIP) Oscar Nzoka, Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT) Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) Background In Kenya, national certified potato seed production currently meets less than 5% of acreage needs. Limited availability of affordable, certified seed is considered a key impediment…
Read MoreApical Rooted Cuttings of Potatoes Revolutionized in the Philippines
Contributed by Cynthia G. Kiswa, Teresita D. Masangcay, Jocelyn C. Perez, Gabby K. Dao-ines, Jennie B. Balao, Jophr L. Galian of Northern Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center of Benguet State University; Victoria E. Demonteverde of Potato Systems Research and Training Center, Canlaon City, The Philippines and Peter Vander Zaag of Sunrise Potato, Alliston…
Read MoreApical Rooted Cuttings of Potatoes Revolutionized in Kenya
Contributed by Mr. James Nderui, Kenya and Edited by Dr Peter VanderZaag, Canada Public and Private Partners Apical Rooted Cutting (ARC) technology was introduced into Kenya by the International Potato Center (CIP) and refined through a partnership with Stokman Rozen Kenya Ltd. The ARC technology was refined and tested in small plots with excellent results.…
Read MoreCollaboration and Partnership in Kenya’s Potato Sub-sector
Compiled by Wachira Kaguongo and Adrine Wanjiku of National potato council of Kenya Introduction The National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) is a Public Private Partnership organization charged with a role of revitalizing and developing the potato sub-sector. The Council aims to transform the sub-sector into a robust, competitive, and self-regulating industry through; i) Providing…
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