NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR POTATO GROWERS IN KENYA

APPROVAL OF THREE HYBRID POTATO VARIETIES COULD HELP OVERCOME CHALLENGES OF FINDING CLEAN STARTING MATERIAL, SAYS BREEDER’S CEO.

THE variety release committee of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has recently announced that three of Dutch breeder Solynta’s hybrid true potato varieties have been approved for distribution in Kenya.

The hybrid potato varieties approved for release are SOLHY007, SOLHY012, and SOLHY015. These first commercially available varieties will be sold in the market as true seeds and seedlings grown from true seeds (via local partners). The varieties were developed in the Netherlands via non-GMO hybrid breeding technology, a new breeding platform invented by Solynta. One of the varieties contains multiple resistant genes to late blight, a well-known potato disease that causes great damage to growers’ yields.

Solynta will make these approved hybrid varieties available across Kenya ahead of the next growing season. One of Kenyan potato growers’ biggest challenges is having limited access to sufficient clean starting material to grow their crops and Solynta says the approved seeds are disease-free, easy to store, and economical to use. With 25 grams of seed, growers can plant the same area that otherwise requires 2,500 kilograms of tubers.

Solynta has spent years working with African farmers, distributors, and major processing companies and has field-tested the hybrid varieties across the continent, including in Kenya, Egypt, Namibia, and South Africa.

Chief Executive of the National Potato Council of Kenya, Wachira Kaguongo, said: “We are excited to welcome the latest and most innovative seed solution to Kenyan potato farmers. The innovative technology provides farmers solutions for many seed challenges, ensuring stability and growth. We remain dedicated to further supporting the entire potato value chain in Kenya and contributing to a more secure and prosperous future for the nation.”

Solynta’s CEO Peter Poortinga (pictured) said the National Potato Council of Kenya had evaluated Solynta’s varieties and Kenyan potato growers could rest assured that hybrid potatoes and true potato seeds are a safe and reliable innovation for their farms, businesses, and customers.

“We look forward to helping potato growers explore how the hybrid true potato system can help them feed their communities, stabilise their crop yields, and help expand Kenya’s agricultural trade footprint,” he said.

Kenya has a ‘forward-thinking’ approach to crop innovation, according to Solynta’s Director of strategic alliances, Charles Miller.

“Regulators want to provide as many tools as possible to local growers. They have been intent on finding ways to increase their farmers’ access to quality seeds while also acting in the best interest of Kenyan farmers and consumers,” he said. “We are excited to see that, as part of this mission, our hybrid true potato seed varieties have been approved for commercial use. We look forward to expanding our work here and helping grow potato production in Kenya with our seeds.”