Potato farmers are set to start reaping profits from the supply of quality potatoes.
This is after a consortium led by the Co-operative Bank dubbed ‘The Potato Consortium’ concluded a major milestone in the improvement of potato farming and marketing.
The consortium is working towards the realization of a new model that has been dubbed as ‘farm-to-plate’ value chain.
In the milestone that was recorded on Friday, July 31, 2023, the consortium led by Co-operative Bank in collaboration with the County Government of Nyeri, Yara E.A, Bayer E.A and Agrico PSA witnessed the harvesting of the potatoes in the first demonstration farm in Kieni Subcounty in Nyeri.
In this demonstration farm, project assumptions, projections on yield per unit area as per the prescribed nutrition, crop protection and crop husbandry were successfully put to test and achieved the desired quality standards.
The approved buyer of the produce Simplifine Limited also attended the demonstration and committed to buying directly from the farmers without going through any middlemen.
Simplifine Limited is a food processor that has been contracted by KFC to provide processed potatoes.
Co-op Bank entered into a consortium with other key players in the agricultural value chain to launch ‘The Potato Consortium’ where every partner brings on board their domain expertise to support farmers venture into profitable and sustainable potato farming.
“With the Nyeri demonstration farm having proven the viability of the concept, the consortium will now proceed to rollout with the recruitment of farmers for full scale production,” said Co-op Bank in a statement.
Co-op Bank, Nyandarua County partner to help farmers with potato development
Similar demonstration farms have also been set up in other counties that were identified for initial project pilot. These counties include Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nakuru.
The consortium led by Co-op Bank is looking at production of high-yielding potato varieties that are in demand by key food processors and retailers including KFC.
It is also seeking at availing quality inputs at the right time and affordable prices to farmers.
According to a statement from Co-op Bank, the consortium is also looking at:
1). Agronomic support through extension services embedded within the County Government set-up i.e. use of Ward Agricultural Officers and Co-operative officers
2). Market-driven production, where farmers plant potato varieties that processors require, thereby undertaking contract farming with predictable off-take prices
3). Predictable yields based on prescribed package of crop nutrition and crop protection regime, supported by established demonstration farms managed by the consortium partners serving as centers of excellence.
4). Capacity-building for farmers co-operatives by Co-op Bank through Co-op Consultancy Services, to enable co-operatives become vibrant, well governed, efficient and profitable for better returns to the farmers.
5). Affordable financing from Co-op Bank which is aligned to the potato crop cycle and structured to fund the needs of farmers throughout the production, harvest and post harvest management.
6). Digitization of the farming, production and marketing processes to offer reliable traceability to the consumer and enable all players plan ahead.
