Important characteristics of various potatoes varieties in Kenya-updated

Potatoes have turned out to be the staple food of Kenya with high consumption across Kenya demographics. This has attracted a lot of farmers intending to fill this demand.

However, various commodities perform differently in different Kenyan regions with different yields and disease resistance.

Features of various potatoes variety

Tigoni

Features

• The variety was Released in 1998 by KARI-Tigoni
• It is a tall variety with an upright stem
• Produces white flowers and its tubers have a long oval with white-smooth skin
• Unfortunately, it has poor tuber storage and short tuber dormancy
• Does well in altitudes ranging: 1,800 – 2,600 m
• Tigoni has a maturity Period of 3 – 4 month
• Tolerant to Late Blight
• Has high dry matter content
• Under good management, it has a yield of 14,000 – 18,000kg per acre
• Used mainly in chips, mashing, boiling, baking, roasting

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 Asante

Features

• The variety was Released in 1998 by KARI-Tigoni
• Stems are upright to semi-upright of medium height
• Tubers are round and have pink-smooth skin
• Tuber dormancy is short
• Does well in altitudes range of 1,800 – 2,600 m
• Asante has a maturity Period of 3 – 4 month
• Has high dry matter content
• Fairly tolerant to Late Blight
• Under good management, it can yield between 14,000 – 18,000kg per acre
•  Used mostly in chips, mashing, roasting, baking

Shangi

Features

• Highly prolific, versatile use
• Shangi is 1m high, upright growth with broad leaves which are light in colour.
• Tend to produce abundant flowers,
• It has oval tubers, uniform in grading, white flesh
• Medium to deep eye with pink pigmentation
• Very short dormancy
• Matures in 3-4 months
• Under good management, it can yield between 30,000-40,000kg per acre
• Moderately susceptible to late blight
• Good for mashing, boiling, roasting, chips
• Can do well in an altitude range of 1500-2800m (Arid and Semi-arid Lands)

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Kenya Mpya

Features

• The variety was released in 2010 by KARI Tigoni
• All plants (about 1 m) with good ground cover
• Has white flowers
• Its tubers have Cream white skin colour with pink-shallow eyes
• Does quite well in altitude ranges of 1,400 – 3,000 m
• Has good resistance to Late Blight
• Early tuberization which are large in size with oval/round shape with good storability
• Short dormancy thus fast germination
• Maturity Period of  3 – 3.5 months
• 14,000 – 18,000kg yield per acre under good management
• It is used in boiling, roasting, mashing, chips

Sherekea

Features

• Sherekea is a medium-sized plant that produces abundant light purple flowers.
• Tubers are oblong or round and have red skin.
• Produces a high number of tubers per plant with good storability
• Long tuber dormancy thus takes time before germinating
• Does well in altitudes range of 1,800 – 3,000 m
• Has a maturity Period of 3.5 – 4 months
• It can yield up to 16,000 – 20,000kg per acre under good management
• High resistance to Late Blight and viruses (PVY and PLRV)
• Sherekea is used in boiling, roasting, mashing, chips, crisps

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Purple Gold

Features

• It is a medium-sized plant with purples flowers
• Tubers are round and have dark purple skin with white flesh eyes
• Has long tuber dormancy thus takes time before germinating
• It has an excellent crisping quality and is predominantly grown in Narok but can be grown in other areas
• Moderate resistance to late blight, PLRV but susceptible to PVY
• Tolerant to most soil-borne diseases
• It is resistant to greening and has good storability
• Under good management, it can yield up to 10,000 – 14,000kg per acre
• Uses: mashing, boiling, roasting and chips

Kerr’s Pink (also known as “Mew Pink”)

Features

• Tall plant with white flowers
• Tubers have an oval shape with red skin
• Tolerant to drought but, unfortunately; it is susceptible to late blight
• Maturity:2-3 months
• Under good management, it can yield up to 10,000-12,000kg per acre

Dutch Robijn

Features

• It’s a medium-height with an upright stem which produces white flowers
• Tubers are round and red skin in colour with good storage and long dormancy
• 14,000-16,000kg yield per acre under good

Reference: SHEP PLUS, A PROJECT OF Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF), Agriculture and Food Authority (Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD)) of the Republic of Kenya and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

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