Seed import plan becomes a hot potato

• Potato council and affiliates protest State move to import potato tubers from the Nethelands unilaterally

A major controversy has broken out over government plan to import seed potato favoured for the production of high quality crisps and chips.

It follows an agreement between the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) and its counterpart in the Netherlands signed on behalf of Kenya Government allowing the latter to export planting potato tubers into the country.

Now, Mr Wachira Kaguongo, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Potato Council of Kenya— an umbrella organisation for the sector to which Kephis, Ministry of Agriculture, seed merchants and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) are members— says the deal ignores plant material safety importation procedures.

The council wants the importation of the potato seed stopped claiming it is illegal and exposes the sector to dangerous pests and diseases.

The deal was agreed on in September between the Minister for Agriculture, Dr Sally Kosgei and her counterpart from the Netherlands, Mr Henk Bleker.

“During the visit, Dr Kosgei had directed her technical people to make sure that the deal was done and imports were in the country by last December,” said Mr Kaguongo.

“We have written to the Attorney-General over the issue and are also petitioning the Kenya Revenue Authority not to allow the entry of such imports,” Mr Kaguongo said.

Dr James Onsando, the Managing Director Kephis has defended the deal, saying it is the best thing that has ever happened to the sector “characterised with low production of planting materials” in decades.

“This agreement will ensure that the amount of certified potato seed moves upwards from less than 20 per cent currently. It will also ensure that special processing varieties that are used in production of high quality chips and crisps can be produced in the country, thus saving on foreign exchange,” says Dr Onsando.

Potato seed production was brought to its knees in the 1990s when land meant for breeding and multiplication was grabbed and the Agricultural Development Corporation and the Kenya Farmers Association were crippled.

However, Dr Jackson Kabira, the head of the Kari’s Tigoni Centre, says the government should focus on reviving the sector instead of resorting to imports.

“We can’t understand why the government wants to import seeds while in the last five years it has been revitalising the sector and now it is on its way to recovery, albeit slowly.”

In 2009, the assistant minister for agriculture, Mr Kareke Mbiuki, re-launched the previously moribund cold storage facility at the Molo Agriculture Development Corporation at a cost of about Sh50 million.

“All the systems are now working and currently we have over 165 hectares of seed potato on the ground which marks a major step towards recovery. In our current financial year 2012/2013 we plan to plant 400 ha of seed potato which will greatly enhance production,” the Molo ADC facility administrator Ms Judy Ogema told the Nation at her office last week.

Ms Ogema said recreating the sector is delicate and does not need disruption such as the proposed importation of tubers because of the inherent danger of diseases and pests.

“Importation of new superior varieties and technologies is a good idea but this must follow the right procedures. It must be done in a professional manner and in no way should we allow the bringing in of tubers. They are too risky,” she said.

Breaking its own regulations

The ADC potato multiplication programme has also been a beneficiary of the Enchari Farm in Narok previously purchased by the government for the resettlement of IDPs but given to research firms after the local community opposed the resettlement.