By Joel Chacha/Kenya,Nairobi,
Kenya has taken centre stage in the global potato industry, with CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe opening the 13th World Potato Congress and inviting investors to help the country replace imported potato products, expand processing and turn idle public land into productive agricultural enterprises.
The historic gathering has attracted 1,000 delegates from 67 countries, surpassing the initial target of 600 delegates from 60 countries.
Running from 26 to 30 October 2026, it is the first World Potato Congress to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa, giving Kenya a platform to showcase its agricultural potential and secure partnerships in research, seed production, mechanisation, storage and processing.
CS Kagwe urged delegates to ensure the gathering delivers practical benefits to farmers, placing their incomes, productivity and access to markets at the centre of the discussions.
“A food secure, healthier, prosperous farmer is also, in my considered view, a prerequisite for a safer, stable and productive society,” CS Kagwe said.
The congress builds on his call during a preparatory meeting last week for investors to seize opportunities in replacing imported potato products with locally produced alternatives.
During those discussions, CS Kagwe cited local supply meeting 40% of the market against 60% supplied through imports, identifying the gap as an investment opportunity for Kenyan farmers and processors.
“This is an opportunity to substitute imports,” CS Kagwe said at the preparatory meeting.
He called for investment that connects farmers to processors, hotels, restaurants and fast-food businesses, allowing Kenya to retain more earnings, create jobs and build its capacity to export quality potato products.
At the congress opening, CS Kagwe highlighted the Land Commercialization Initiative, through which the government is leasing idle public land to private investors on a long-term basis for agricultural production.
He invited investors to partner with Kenya in unlocking the land’s productive potential, linking commercial farming to irrigation, technology, value addition and reliable markets.
CS Kagwe also outlined the government’s wider irrigation ambition, including the development of 50 mega dams, 200 medium-sized dams and 1,000 water pans and reservoirs to reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall.
Potato, he noted, is Kenya’s second most important food and cash crop, supporting livelihoods across farming, transport, trade, processing and food services.
Citing the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ National Agriculture Production Report 2025, CS Kagwe said Kenya produced approximately 2.2M tonnes of potatoes in 2024, valued at KSh 72.5B.
This was a decline from approximately 2.3M tonnes in 2023, partly attributed to failed short rains and excessive long rains that contributed to fungal diseases, including potato blight.
To address these challenges, CS Kagwe outlined interventions targeting quality seed, disease management, climate-smart production and reduced post-harvest losses.
He highlighted research by the KALRO and the International Potato Center to develop a late blight-resistant biotech potato using the popular Shangi variety.
CS Kagwe said the variety, developed by introducing three resistance genes into Shangi, had demonstrated complete resistance to late blight in field trials, pointing to the potential to reduce fungicide spraying against the disease.
He also cited Clone IG-70, a drought- and blight-tolerant potato variety developed through KALRO’s Potato Research Centre in Tigoni, which he said was progressing towards final verification.
The CS pointed to the KALRO Marindas Potato Sub-Centre in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County, commissioned three months earlier to support access to certified seed and training in modern farming technologies.
The Ministry is also expanding Rooted Apical Cuttings technology through partnerships involving ASARECA, FIPs-Africa, Egerton University and the National Potato Council
The initiative is supporting multiplication of planting material for varieties including Shangi, Unica and Wanjiku to help smallholder farmers overcome quality seed shortages.
Through the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative, partnerships with Egerton University and the National Potato Council of Kenya are targeting 150,000 potato farmers with support to improve productivity, quality and climate-smart farming.
CS Kagwe emphasised that these investments must be protected through rigorous inspection, certification and action against uncertified or counterfeit seed.
He highlighted the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service – Kephis role in testing and releasing varieties, certifying planting material and strengthening surveillance against diseases and pests.
Diversifying potato varieties, he said, would also help farmers meet the specific requirements of chips and crisps processors, strengthening opportunities for local manufacturing.
CS Kagwe further highlighted cold chain infrastructure developed in 12 counties over the past four years to improve storage, reduce losses, support local value addition and strengthen routes to market.
During last week’s preparatory meeting, he expressed readiness to engage the National Treasury on proposals to zero-rate potato-processing machinery, asking industry players to submit specific requests identifying equipment and interventions needed to unlock investment.
He also encouraged farmers to form cooperatives and associations to improve access to machinery, shared facilities and government support.
Other proposals raised during the preparations included strengthening practical potato training through the Kenya School of Agriculture and establishing a dedicated potato component within the Kenya Agricultural Data and Information Centre, KADIC, to support planning and innovation.
The congress, held under the theme “Global Potato Partnership for Enhanced Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Trade,” will connect farmers with researchers, technology providers, seed suppliers and potential business partners.
A scheduled Farmer Field Day will expose producers to new varieties, modern farming methods, processing opportunities and market requirements.
This year’s gathering also introduces a Teens Programme under the 4K Club to inspire young people to explore opportunities in agricultural science, technology and enterprise.
A Women in Potato initiative will strengthen women’s participation, leadership and empowerment across the industry.
CS Kagwe urged delegates to share evidence and develop solutions suited to local farming conditions, saying the success of the congress should be reflected in stronger farm businesses, better market access and improved livelihoods.
For Kenya, the ambition is to turn the historic Naivasha gathering into lasting investment that replaces imports, expands processing, creates employment and puts more money into farmers’ pockets.
Kenya has taken centre stage in the global potato industry, with CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe opening the 13th World Potato Congress and inviting investors to help the country replace imported potato products, expand processing and turn idle public land into productive agricultural enterprises.
The historic gathering has attracted 1,000 delegates from 67 countries, surpassing the initial target of 600 delegates from 60 countries.
Running from 26 to 30 October 2026, it is the first World Potato Congress to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa, giving Kenya a platform to showcase its agricultural potential and secure partnerships in research, seed production, mechanisation, storage and processing.
CS Kagwe urged delegates to ensure the gathering delivers practical benefits to farmers, placing their incomes, productivity and access to markets at the centre of the discussions.
“A food secure, healthier, prosperous farmer is also, in my considered view, a prerequisite for a safer, stable and productive society,” CS Kagwe said.
The congress builds on his call during a preparatory meeting last week for investors to seize opportunities in replacing imported potato products with locally produced alternatives.
During those discussions, CS Kagwe cited local supply meeting 40% of the market against 60% supplied through imports, identifying the gap as an investment opportunity for Kenyan farmers and processors.
“This is an opportunity to substitute imports,” CS Kagwe said at the preparatory meeting.
He called for investment that connects farmers to processors, hotels, restaurants and fast-food businesses, allowing Kenya to retain more earnings, create jobs and build its capacity to export quality potato products.
At the congress opening, CS Kagwe highlighted the Land Commercialization Initiative, through which the government is leasing idle public land to private investors on a long-term basis for agricultural production.
He invited investors to partner with Kenya in unlocking the land’s productive potential, linking commercial farming to irrigation, technology, value addition and reliable markets.
CS Kagwe also outlined the government’s wider irrigation ambition, including the development of 50 mega dams, 200 medium-sized dams and 1,000 water pans and reservoirs to reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall.
Potato, he noted, is Kenya’s second most important food and cash crop, supporting livelihoods across farming, transport, trade, processing and food services.
Citing the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ National Agriculture Production Report 2025, CS Kagwe said Kenya produced approximately 2.2M tonnes of potatoes in 2024, valued at KSh 72.5B.
This was a decline from approximately 2.3M tonnes in 2023, partly attributed to failed short rains and excessive long rains that contributed to fungal diseases, including potato blight.
To address these challenges, CS Kagwe outlined interventions targeting quality seed, disease management, climate-smart production and reduced post-harvest losses.
He highlighted research by the KALRO and the International Potato Center to develop a late blight-resistant biotech potato using the popular Shangi variety.
CS Kagwe said the variety, developed by introducing three resistance genes into Shangi, had demonstrated complete resistance to late blight in field trials, pointing to the potential to reduce fungicide spraying against the disease.
He also cited Clone IG-70, a drought- and blight-tolerant potato variety developed through KALRO’s Potato Research Centre in Tigoni, which he said was progressing towards final verification.
The CS pointed to the KALRO Marindas Potato Sub-Centre in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County, commissioned three months earlier to support access to certified seed and training in modern farming technologies.
The Ministry is also expanding Rooted Apical Cuttings technology through partnerships involving ASARECA, FIPs-Africa, Egerton University and the National Potato Council
The initiative is supporting multiplication of planting material for varieties including Shangi, Unica and Wanjiku to help smallholder farmers overcome quality seed shortages.
Through the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative, partnerships with Egerton University and the National Potato Council of Kenya are targeting 150,000 potato farmers with support to improve productivity, quality and climate-smart farming.
CS Kagwe emphasised that these investments must be protected through rigorous inspection, certification and action against uncertified or counterfeit seed.
He highlighted the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service – Kephis role in testing and releasing varieties, certifying planting material and strengthening surveillance against diseases and pests.
Diversifying potato varieties, he said, would also help farmers meet the specific requirements of chips and crisps processors, strengthening opportunities for local manufacturing.
CS Kagwe further highlighted cold chain infrastructure developed in 12 counties over the past four years to improve storage, reduce losses, support local value addition and strengthen routes to market.
During last week’s preparatory meeting, he expressed readiness to engage the National Treasury on proposals to zero-rate potato-processing machinery, asking industry players to submit specific requests identifying equipment and interventions needed to unlock investment.
He also encouraged farmers to form cooperatives and associations to improve access to machinery, shared facilities and government support.
Other proposals raised during the preparations included strengthening practical potato training through the Kenya School of Agriculture and establishing a dedicated potato component within the Kenya Agricultural Data and Information Centre, KADIC, to support planning and innovation.
The congress, held under the theme “Global Potato Partnership for Enhanced Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Trade,” will connect farmers with researchers, technology providers, seed suppliers and potential business partners.
A scheduled Farmer Field Day will expose producers to new varieties, modern farming methods, processing opportunities and market requirements.
This year’s gathering also introduces a Teens Programme under the 4K Club to inspire young people to explore opportunities in agricultural science, technology and enterprise.
A Women in Potato initiative will strengthen women’s participation, leadership and empowerment across the industry.
CS Kagwe urged delegates to share evidence and develop solutions suited to local farming conditions, saying the success of the congress should be reflected in stronger farm businesses, better market access and improved livelihoods.
For Kenya, the ambition is to turn the historic Naivasha gathering into lasting investment that replaces imports, expands processing, creates employment and puts more money into farmers’ pockets.
