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)
Read also how to farm tomatoes successfully
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)
