October 9, 2025
A breakthrough in Kenya’s potato farming was unveiled this October at the Nairobi International Trade Fair, where the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) showcased a new potato variety called 1G70.
This variety promises to tackle longstanding challenges faced by Kenyan potato farmers, including vulnerability to late blight and viral diseases, while offering the potential to dramatically increase yields.
1G70 stands out for its strong resistance to late blight, the notorious disease responsible for devastating potato crops worldwide and potato viruses.
Farmers can expect a variety that matures in just four months and yields between 35 to 40 tons per hectare, a significant leap above Kenya’s current average yields of 7 to 12 tons.
The variety features oval-oblong tubers with cream-white flesh and medium-deep eyes, making it versatile for table consumption and processing into chips and crisps. This development is especially important for key potato-growing counties such as Nyandarua, Nakuru, and Meru, where smallholder farmers make up a large portion of the sector.
Despite potatoes being crucial for Kenya’s food security and economic growth, producing up to two million tonnes annually from about 800,000 smallholder farmers, yield gaps remain a major concern. Limited access to clean, certified seed has long hindered productivity, leaving farmers exposed to crop losses from pests, diseases, and poor soil fertility.
The National Potato Council of Kenya highlights that improved varieties like 1G70, along with climate-smart farming practices, are critical to closing these yield gaps and boosting farmer incomes. KALRO has also introduced innovative potato seed technologies, such as rooted apical cuttings, which enable faster and more reliable seed multiplication compared to traditional tuber planting.
Regulatory frameworks are being strengthened to support this transformation. The Crops (Irish Potato) Regulations of 2019 enforce standards in seed certification, packaging, grading, labeling, and quality control, aimed at safeguarding farmers and enhancing market competitiveness.