MHFA IRISH POTATO VALUE CHAIN
S
N
2021
PRIORITIES/FOC
US
ACTIVITIES
STRATEGIES
LESSONS LEARNT
CHALLENGES
PRESENT &
FUTURE
ACTIONS
TIMELINES
1
ENHANCE
IRISH
POTATO
PRODUCTION
Support farmer
access to quality
planting materials
Promote seed
multiplication
for
production of
quality
planting
material and
diverse seed
varieties
There is
potential to
considerably
produce more in
Irish potatoes if
the right
approaches are
adopted
COLLECTIVE
MARKETING
IN IRISH
POTATO
PRODUCTION
Promote farmer
access to irrigation
services
Promote
adoption of
VSLA
methodologie
s
To sustainably
produce and
engage in
collective
marketing and
value addition in
potatoes, there
is need to have a
considerable
financial outlay –
investment in
cold storage,
irrigation
Engage in seed
multiplication –
Awaiting a
grant from
ASDSP to
operationalize
seed
multiplication –
500, 000
shillings.
Engage in
advocacy to
push for more
investment in
agriculture
through public
participation –
This will
enhance
irrigation
systems,
improvement
of feeder
31ST JUNE 2021
2
Due to bulkiness of Irish
potato, transportation from
farm to store is a challenge –
It is expensive e.g. On
average, it is 100 shillings to
transport a bag of potatoes
from farm to the road and it
takes another 200 shillings to
transport a bag from farm to
store.
Due to perishability of Irish
potato, farmers are unwilling
to store of Irish potatoes or
transport from farm to store.
PRESENT – 31ST
MAY 2021 –
FOR 2021-2022
FISCAL YEAR,
1ST JUNE – 31ST
MAY 2022 –
FOR THE 20222023 FISCAL
YEAR
systems etc.
3
Promote farmer
access to crop
insurance
4
Promote
mechanization in
Irish potato
5
Promote farmer
access to financial
services
Promote
farmer
participation
in
participatory
democracy –
increase
investments
in
agriculture(
irrigation
systems, etc.
Ensure
operationaliz
ation of the
MHFA
marketing
cooperative
society
Seek capital
investments
for the
enterprise –
proposal
writing, pool
internal
resources
There are many
stakeholders
willing to
support growth
of the Irish
potato value
chain – in
production and
marketing
Road networks are poor and
makes it difficult to transport
potatoes from farms to store
– in the rainy reason, most
roads are impassable – e.g in
2020, it was impossible for all
type of road vehicles to travel
between Kamasia and Kimnai
[12 KMs] with people
resorting to trekking. Goods
could not be transported.
Processors and buyers
demand huge volumes of
Ware potatoes per day –
GAEA- 56 Tones per week
The variety of potatoes
demanded by buyers and
processors are not grown by
farmers. While farmers
willing to plant these
varieties do not easily access
the seeds as they are
expensive and not easily
roads, soil
testing , access
to insurance
etc.
Enhance
operations of
the Agro vet
Fully
operationalize
the MHFA
marketing
cooperative
society –
Farmers to be
able to
accesses credit
facilities
Purchase of a
Tractor and
Lorry.
31ST APRIL 2021
31ST OCTOBER
2021
PURCHASE OF
TRACTOR –
JUNE 2022
6
Strengthen farmer
participation in
MHFA cooperative
society
7
Promote
farmer
participation
in collective
actions
Support linkages
to institutions
doing value
addition
8
available. A bag of Dutch
Robjin and Jelly goes for 3000
shillings per 50 kg bag while
an acre of land requires 16
bags. These seeds can only be
purchased Nakuru. The costs
are without transportation
cost
Blanket Planting of Irish
potato is also a problem with
most farmers buying at the
same time – March April –
first season and August –
Second Season
Pool resources
or access
grants to act as
working capital
ON-GOING
INVOLVES
EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL
RESOURCES
Purchase of soil 31ST JUNE 2021
testing
machine
Engage in value 31ST JUNE 2022
addition in Irish
Potatoes –
Potato Flour
ACTORS
SN
WHAT WORKED WELL
WHAT DID NOT WORK WELL
STRATEGIES OF
INCOOPERATING WOMEN
AND YOUTH
1
Collective access to inputs – crop specific fertilizers
and agro-chemicals. Sold 2700 bags of subsidized
fertilizers in 2021
Access to extension services - Extensive capacity on
agronomic practices, pre-harvest and post-harvest
handling techniques – Within and Without
Creation of production plans – most
farmers want to plant at the same
time
Support youth and women to
engage in seed multiplication
3
Synergy with other like-minded stakeholder
Access to recommended seed
varieties as farmers do not want to
plant the recommended seed
varieties – by buyers and processors
4
Support from the county and national government
5
Cooling store are in place – 150 Tons capacity,
Grading shade in place – for sorting and grading
Irish potato, Availability of weighing scale
Created linkages with buyers and processors –
GAEA, TWIGA
Registration of MHFA marketing cooperative
society – to conduct business
2
Access to quality planting materials
– seeds