The County Government of Nakuru has empowered potato farmers with climate-smart innovations and technologies to help them increase the crop production both for domestic consumption and for export.
Deputy Governor David Kones said they were also working to equip agricultural extension officers working with smallholder farmers to train them on modern farming practices that will mitigate against risks like drought, floods, climate-induced pests and diseases.
Kones at the same time affirmed that the devolved unit's administration was enforcing the Irish Potato Regulations 2019 that compel traders to package the crop in 50-kilogram bags. "Those found contravening the rules will be prosecuted and risk being fined Sh500,000 or being jailed for a year," Kones warned.
Kones said enforcement of the regulations was designed to protect farmers from unscrupulous traders who buy potatoes cheaply in the extended bags commonly known as 'dusura,' then go to the market and repackage them into smaller units, where they make a killing when they resell.
