By Charei Munene
The potato seed you use will determine whether you harvest a good potato crop or not. Seed is the most important input for a farmer. Seed quality affects the performance of the crop and eventually the yield. The choice of potato seed can affect your production with margins of over 50 percent. You will get a healthier potato crop and more yield if you use certified seed potato. Planting certified potato seed doubles or even triples yields. Most farmers are still using old seed that has been planted for very many generations. These old seeds mostly transfer disease, have lost strength, and are very likely to become diseased and produce very poor yield. Certified seed on the other hand are produced from virgin propagation material under very strict agronomic conditions.
The advantages of using certified potato seed include;
- Better yield, pest/disease resistance and drought tolerance. Certified seeds are a product of many years of research and development combined with excellent agronomic practices. Certified seeds have good attributes, are healthy, strong and well adapted for different agro ecological zones.
- Seed potato is disease free since regular inspections are done in the seed potato fields by well-trained government officials.
- Seed potato production is traceable and hence brings accountability.
- Seed potato maintains the value traits of the crop. Many good traits of a potato variety can be gotten in certified potato seed.
- Certified seed potato compliments your good agronomic practices making sure you get the most from your inputs, it saves cost of inputs since disease and pest incidence is lower.
You can plant two to three generations from the certified seed potato before getting fresh certified seeds. Farmers can also buy certified seed potato in groups to share costs.
The table below summarizes availability of seed potatoes from registered seed potato merchants in Kenya. It details the current varieties available; location and contacts of each seed producer.
You can order your seeds through viazi soko digital platform; www.npckviazisoko.com.
| 1 | ADC-Molo | Nakuru, Molo | 0721202565 Judith, adcmolo@gmail.com | Shangi, Sherekea, Dutch Robjin, K. Karibu, K. Mpya, Bvumbwe, Asante, Desiree,mavuno, Tana, K.Sifa, Tigoni, |
| 2 | KALRO-Tigoni | Kiambu, Limuru | 0712456653/733834675 karitigoni@yahoo.com | Shangi,Tigoni, Unica, Kenya Karibu, Arka, Sherekea, Kenya . Mavuno |
| 3 | Kisima Farm | Meru, Timau | Oliver Fancombe – 0789458376 potatoes@kisima.co.ke | Tigoni, Asante, Sherekea, K. Mpya, Derby ,Sagitta, Taurus,Challenger, Evora, Panamera, Rodeo, Sifra, Voyager |
| 4 | Agrico East Africa ( under Potato Services Africa Ltd.) | Nakuru, Kabarak | 0741788380-Ruth info@agrico.co.ke | Markies, Rudolph, Destiny, Manitou, faluka,zafira |
| 5 | FreshCrop Limited | Nakuru, Narok, Nyandarua | Chris Gasperi (Founder and CEO) freshcroplimited@gmail.com, 0727230484 0795122648, | Shangi, Dutch Robijn, Wanjiku, Chulu, Unica |
| 6 | Singus Enterprises | Nakuru- Molo | Ann Mbugua 0722691245, | Shangi, Dutch robjin, Unica |
| 7 | Suera Farm | Nyandarua, Oljoro’orok | 0706-186579 Suera.flowers@gmail.com | Musica, Lady Amarilla |
| 8 | Egerton University Seed Unit | Nakuru, Njoro | P.O.Box 536-20115, Prof. Kibe 0721402957 or John Nganga 0723079623 | Shangi, Dutch robijn, Sherekea, Kenya Kabirbu |
| 9 | Stockman Rozen Ltd | Naivasha | 0720-603990 info@srk.co.ke | Apical cuttings and mini-tubers of Shangi, Unica, Konjo, Dutch robjin, Wanjiku, Asante etc. |
| 10 | GTIL (Apical cuttings and minitubers only) | Nairobi, Lower Kabete | 0729852403 kae@africaonline.co.ke | Dutch Robijn,Shangi and Konjo |
| 11 | Gene Biotech seeds LTD | Kajiado, Isinya | 0739-532993-Nayarani, narayanimanatan@yahoo.com | Shangi |
| 12 | Clabham Investment limited – Frontier farm | Nakuru, Mau Narok | 0710607935 Boniface, bonifacetoday@yahoo.com | Shangi, Dutch Robijn |
| 13 | Spring valley (Moiben) | Uasin Gishu, Moiben | 723916161-Samson Chebutuk | Shangi, Dutch robijn, |
| 14 | Aberdare Technology Limited | Muranga | P.O.Box:418-01020 Muranga +254716177086 | Shangi, Dutch Robijn |
| 15 | Sigen Hortipruse Ltd | Elgeyo Marakwet | Isaac Letting 728621222 | Shangi, Dutch Robijn |
| 16 | Kevian Kenya seeds (Kirinyaga seeds) | Kiambu | Henry Kigen 0701830699 info@kirinyagaseeds.com | Dutch varieties, Tornado, Infinity and Imagine |
| 17 | Savannah Fresh Hort. Farmers’ Cooperative Society Ltd | Meru | Patrick 0708347959 | Asante, Sherekea, Sagittal, Taurus, Challenger, Panamera, Unica, Dutch robjin, Konjo and Voyager |
| 18 | Baraka Agricultural College (Nakuru) | Nakuru, Molo | Antony Majanga 0724775769 | Shangi, Kenya Kabribu, Dutch robijn |
| 19 | Kenya Highland Seeds (Royal seed) | Nairobi | Peter 0706 825555 Peter.francombe@khs.co.ke | Royal, Sarpo Mira |
| 20 | Starlight Cooperative society | Nakuru- Molo | 721109200 | Shangi and sherekea |
| 21 | Kimingi Farm (Kalro Tigoni grower) | Nyandarua | John 781431222, 0726107722 | Shangi |
| 22 | Bubayi products Ltd | Kitale | 0735488001, 0722599419 | Shangi and Dutch robijn |
| 23 | NYS Tumaini, | Nyandarua, Olkalou | Kennedy Nyakango, 0720036271 | Shangi, Dutch robijn, Unica |
| 24 | Taita Papa | Taita Taveta, Wundanyi | Granton Ndighila, 0726007669/0735 402986 | Unica, Sherekea |
| 25 | Agripom Kenya Limited | Nakuru Molo | 723111205/ rkimanya@agripom.com | Shangi |
| 26 | Jancota Limited | Nyandarua, Olkalou | Jancota, 0743317508, info@jancota.com | Shangi, Unica, Wanjiku, Dutch robijn |
| 27 | Utopian Supplies Kenya Limited | Nyandarua, Rironi | Stephen, 0725240133,Stephen@utopiangroup.co.ke | Shangi |
| 28 | Flomsa Limited | Nyandarua &Nakuru | Florence Kairu flomsalimited@gmailcom 707848750 | Shangi and Unica |
Source: NPCK