By Antynet Ford

A Kiambu farmer has doubled her potato earnings by reducing her potato varieties to just Shangi and getting certification by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) as a certified seed producer.

“We had issues with poor-quality seeds, unreliable markets, and unpredictable weather. The yields were low, and losses were frequent,” said Woki Njehu of Grace Rock farms.

It was an  agricultural extension officer who introduced her to certified seed production. “Together with other farmers, we were trained on proper seed selection, disease control, and record keeping,” said Woki. “I had to prepare my land differently and buy clean seeds, which was expensive. But I wanted to see if it could make a difference.”

She then moved to get certifition as a seed producer herself. It was a long process with strict standards. Initially, the farm produced three potato varieties Shangi, Dutch, and Unica but Woki realised growing multiple varieties was risking her certification.

“When KEPHIS comes for field inspections and finds many off-types in your seedlings, they can cancel your certificate,” she said. “They will always note if there’s any mixture of varieties and and any slight mistake in mixing varieties would mean going back to the drawing board to apply for a new certificate.”

“If the certificate is cancelled, you start the whole process afresh, seed selection, inspections, everything.”

 “That is what made us change and stick to producing Shangi seedlings only.”

But her yields have risen sharply because of the changes in how she farms, from about 40 bags to 80 bags per acre, making a big difference in earnings.

 “A kilogram of Shangi potato seed goes for around Sh90, while a 50-kg bag sells at Sh3,700,” said Woki. “It has really made a difference.”

Related News:

Potato growers use thermal imagery to produce potatoes with less water

Blight wipes out Nyandarua potatoes after pesticide ban

KFC to buy Kenyan potatoes if farmers meet stringent requirements

She said Shangi is also popular with farmers because it can be replanted several times. “We chose Shangi because farmers prefer a variety they can replant and save costs in the next season,” said Woki. “Shangi can be replanted more than three times. You can also  use it as either seed or food.”

Despite the effort required, the rewards have outweighed the challenges, she said. “Becoming a certified seed producer has changed everything, our yields, our income, and our confidence as farmers. Now, we’re planning to expand and maintain the same strict standards.”

Are you a farmer looking to grow the most profitable crop on your farm, with or without irrigation. Use FarmBizAfrica’s HarvestMAX on https://harvestmax.farmbizapps.com and it will tell you in less than a minute what the highest income-earning crops are for your weather, soil type and this season, based on your seasonal weather forecast. Don’t make weather losses ever again, and more than triple your income.