Potato farmers across the county will from next week package their produce in 50 Kg bag following a directive from Agriculture livestock and fisheries cabinet secretary Felix Koskei.
The move is aimed at protecting potato farmers who are forced to sell their produce in extended 110 kg bags to middlemen.
According to Koskei, who was talking to farmers on Tuesday in Keringet, Nakuru County, the extended bags lead to a lot of waste and fetches low prices in the market yet it is the farmers who bear the brunt.
"The move will be aimed at protecting farmers from exploitation by middlemen. Regulated packaging will see farmers counting profits on their produce as well as boosting food production in the country,” said Koskei.
He further noted that the price at which middlemen buy potatoes in extended bags from farmers is a way of exploitation since the farmers buy certified seeds in 50 kg bags at Sh3,000 from KARI, while they are forced to sell 110kg bag between Sh1,500 to Sh2,000.
The directive will also see farmers banned from selling their produce in 110 kg bags; with the secretary adding that stringent rules banning the sale of the produce in extended bags will be put in place.
According to John Rono, a potato farmer, the move comes as a relief to many farmers as they will get a chance to count profits instead of losses.
“The move will encourage many farmers who were already counting losses to reconsider farming potatoes,” said Rono.