National Root and Tuber Crops Development Strategy 2019-2022

Abstract

The challenges facing the root and tuber crops sub-sector are numerous and include weak stakeholder institutions and linkages between players in the subsector, low and declining productivity, high losses due to pests and diseases, lack of adequate quantities of clean and healthy seeds and planting materials, idle and inefficient land use, inadequate use of farm inputs and modern technology, low access to financial services, poor post-harvest management practices, low levels of processing and marketing inefficiencies. Declining productivity of these crops in some areas has also been caused by adverse weather conditions, poor soil fertility, use of low yielding varieties, low levels of mechanization and poor crop husbandry practices. This strategy outlines interventions that will address the challenges facing the industry and help create sustainable linkages among collaborating institutions. In its initial two years of implementation, emphasis will be put on creation of credible stakeholder-based institutions with inbuilt sustainability mechanisms at ward, sub county, county and National level. These institutions will be capacity built to implement an efficient seed production and distribution system. The seed system will include improved varieties of roots and tuber crops that have recently been developed by KALRO in collaboration with regional and international research organizations. The improved varieties are drought resistant, high yielding, early maturing, tolerant to various diseases, have improved nutritional content and are highly adapted to the local conditions. The proposed seed system will include development, multiplication, certification and distribution of clean, quality planting materials of the improved varieties.