Use of certified seeds doubles yields for Meru potato farmers  

By Erick Otieno

Potato farmers in Meru County have doubled their yields following the introduction of an agricultural diversification project that emphasized improved and certified seeds.

The project targeted over 10,000 farmers in the county and was introduced by Meru County government and the Korea Programme for International Cooperation in Agricultural Technology (KOPIA).

It seeks to improve both agriculture and poultry farming production amongst rural farmers has seen an increase in potato production, from eight tonnes per acre to 16.

“The county government is committed to ensuring our people have enough to eat and at the same time have money in their pockets, that is why we encourage each and every farmer to take advantage of the improved and certified seeds to boost their production and earning,” Chief Officer for Livestock Production in the county David Mugambi said.

Dr Mugambi, who was distributing potato seeds and seedlings from the agriculture model villages to farmers from Kitherine and Murungurune in central Imenti and South Imenti constituencies, added that the devolved unit was keen on sustainability by ensuring farmers get potatoes for consumption, re-planting and sale from the basic seeds.

According to the officer, 23.2 tonnes of potato seeds and seedlings from the programme were issued to various farmers across the county in a mass distribution exercise, adding that the use of certified potato seeds has come with a lot of benefits.

“Farmers can now pay for their children’s school fees through farming because the demand for potatoes continues to increase across the country, and this only means more money to the farmer,” he said.

The coordinator for KOPIA project in Meru county Julius Gitonga called on farmers to embrace the rooted apical cutting method of potato farming to boost their production.

He said a majority of the farmers in the programme are already undergoing training on that particular method of farming.