The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has introduced a game changing potato variety, Clone IG-70, that promises to revolutionize potato farming in Kenya.
The new variety, which is drought- and blight-tolerant, was unveiled last Friday during the Mkulima Open Week Exhibitions at the KALRO Potato Research Centre in Tigoni, Limuru Sub-county.
KALRO has been at the forefront of developing high-yielding, disease-resistant potato varieties, while adopting innovative farming methods, including improved post-harvest techniques, to enhance productivity. "Certified seeds play a crucial role in enhancing potato productivity, and the KALRO Research Open Week aims to educate farmers on advanced technologies and best practices to meet the country's growing potato demand," said Robert Musyoki, the Director of KALRO Seeds.
Musyoki revealed that Clone IG-70 was in its final verification stages and would soon be available to farmers and emphasized that educating farmers on certified seeds, would help bridge the gap in seed shortages and improve yields. "There is a high demand for certified seeds in the country, but low production capacity has made it difficult to meet this demand.
