J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 POTATO GROWER 25 itary measures such as restricted entrance for all through disinfection baths. The farm is well equipped. It is in the middle of one of the potato areas and sells seed mostly directly to local growers. They have a closed seed potato production system and have proven that they have kept certain pests out. They cooperate with HZPC from the Netherlands. Some of their varieties were: Sherekea, Asante, Tigoni, Unica, Taurus and Panamera. The last two ones were from HZPC. Another farm, “Charvi” in Mau Narok in the Nakuru region is more recently established. It buys breeders seed or generation zero in Kenya and imported seed from Europe, working with Syngenta and Europlant. The farm has different locations, new equipment and a refrigerated store. It seemed to have adapted well to the growing seasons and the Kenyan certification system. They are looking to obtain more pre-basic seed and have created a great demand for what they produce. Some varieties were Shangi, Unica and Jelly, Dutch Robijn and Rumba. The last three are chip varieties, or “crisps” as they were called in Kenya. Most farms are small holdings that obtain seed locally. The lack of crop rotation keeps yields down. The pests and diseases, mentioned most often, were bacterial wilt, black leg and potato cyst nematode. The certification system has a zero tolerance for them, but since so little seed is certified that only helps with imports, but not necessarily enough in the field. Potato cyst nema- tode is a recent find, although it appears that it has been around. There are no indications yet how damaging that pest is under Kenyan circumstances. Late blight can also occur and it came as a surprise to me that Ridomil Gold was still effective and has been for years. It seems that resistant pathotypes have not yet been introduced. Syngenta sug- gests very strongly to rotate fungicides. Some basic seed farms maintain a closed system, but to increase the supply of good seed, imports appear to be needed. True potato seed is another technology that is said to have been improved and is now tried in the country to supply affordable clean seed. It is in the trial stage. Tansplants from such so called “hybrid seed” are in the field in the Netherlands. In its support of African potatoes the International Potato Center (CIP) con- tinues its breeding efforts. It also has tri- als planting plantlets directly in the field to have farmers start with clean planting material. The NPCK had organized their second Potato Trade Show and Symposium. The show and the symposium was well attended. Grimme and Hardi were two equipment suppliers, also known in the US, represented there. A soil lab, had a sensor available to have reports about soil nutrition available over the inter- net. Financial institutions were present. International cooperation showed a low-cost storage structure. Seed potato producers and chemical and fertilizer companies were also having booths. Topics for the symposium were storage, cooperation, seed quality and efforts to improve it. Many efforts and international coopera- tion are taking place to improve the sec- ond most important food crop in Kenya. Importation of seed looks to be an immediate solution to improve the seed supply. In the long run, local investment is needed to make certified seed potatoes available to the farmers in the country and make the potato crop more profitable and affordable. There are huge screen houses for roses in Kenya. Some have been made available to provide plantlets. Vegetables for sale at a market at a roadside in Kinungi.