A section of potato farmers in Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties has threatened to boycott planting the crop.
This is due to what they say are punitive laws that were recently introduced in the sector.
The farmers from Kaptagat and Tendwo say the new laws and regulations have pushed away businesspersons who were buying their potatoes.
As a result of the laws that were meant to regulate the potato farming industry, the farmers say there has been a huge drop in the price.
“That law has made all our potatoes lack market. The price of one bag is now at between Ksh300 and Ksh500 which is too low,” said one of the farmers.
Previously, a bag of potatoes would cost between Ksh2,500 and Ksh3,000 at the farm.
The Irish Potatoes Regulations (2019) demands among others that potatoes be packaged in approved clean material that allows for the flow of air, and not exceeding 50 kilograms per bag.
The law also requires growers, transporters, dealers, and processors to register with the counties, failure to which they face up to Sh5 million fines or three years’ imprisonment or both.
“Hiyo sheria iko na mambo mingi inasukuma wanunuzi wasije hapa kununua viazi yetu,” lamented another farmer.
The farmers now want the government to suspend the implementation of the law, and do a public participation forum with them.
They say, the government should always strive to establish laws that protect farmers, and not hurt them, as is the case with the potatoes’ regulations law.
“If the government insists that the law has to be in force, we will have no other option but to look for other crops,” said Dinah Kemboi, a farmer from Tendwo area.
Most farmers say they have been depending on potatoes to cater to their needs, including paying school fees for their children, but a sudden drop in prices has left them with no other place to run to.
“With Ksh500 per bag, how many bags will we need to sell so as to raise school fees for our children?” asked another farmer Esther Ruto.
