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Varsity releases new Irish potato variety
What you need to know:
- The researcher said the variety matures in four months and can yield up to 34 tonnes an acre, unlike other types that take up to eight months to be ready.
- Speaking to the Nation, Prof Were said Mayan Gold was classified under high yield early main crop that produces larger potatoes, which are ideal for baking and roasting.
A new Irish potato variety that yields more than any other type in Kenya is now available, a researcher has said.
To potato farmers, the release of the variety known as Mayan Gold is good news because it is resistant to viral infections and matures faster.
Prof Hassan Were, who spearheaded introduction of the variety, said what motivated him to come up with the new potato was the lifestyle and eating habits of Kenyans.
“Eating of Irish potatoes has become the norm in our country, it is like the second staple. When you walk into a restaurant, bar or hotels, you will find people consuming more of the Irish potatoes either in chips form or in other dishes,” said Prof Were.
He is a senior lecturer in the Biological Sciences department of the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
“For people to get good yields with the rapid diminishing of land size per household as a result of population increase, they needed a variety that could produce more, therefore, the Mayan Gold,” he said.
The researcher said the variety matures in four months and can yield up to 34 tonnes an acre, unlike other types that take up to eight months to be ready.
“The new variety is going to strengthen potato production systems of small-holder farmers in the highland regions because of its early maturity,” he said.
Speaking to the Nation, Prof Were said Mayan Gold was classified under high yield early main crop that produces larger potatoes, which are ideal for baking and roasting.
SPROUT BEFORE PLANTING
“They are ready to harvest approximately 16 weeks from planting date and do well when chitting is done before plantation,” he said. Chitting is the process of making seed potatoes sprout before they are planted.
After selecting the cropping type, there is need to decide whether the tubers will be planted in bags or in the ground.
“If you have plenty of space in your garden for a vegetable plot, or you are lucky enough to own a plot, then you should probably try Mayan Gold variety because it needs space to produce more,” said Prof Were.
