In a paper published in Advances in Food Security and Sustainability, researchers found that farmers in East Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) were able to better adapt to the impact of COVID-19 than those in the Southern African countries of Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

These regional differences, the researchers said, could largely be explained by the difference in arrival times of lock-down measures, access and adoption of technology and cultural differences in adapting to the new situation.

There was a public outcry last week against the American fast-food franchise Kentucky Fries and Chicken (KFC).

The furore that was channelled through social media, with the hashtag BoycottKFC trending on Twitter, was inflamed by a KFC tweet on Monday that it had run out of potato chips.

‘Insensitive’ is the word that the Governor of Nyandarua County Francis Kimemia used to describe the statement by KFC. This is because thousands of farmers continue to struggle with an oversupply of potatoes.

The ADAPT Project, with a total budget of 5 million Euro funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No GA 2020 862-858, will determine the molecular and phenotypical responses of potatoes to combined environmental stress conditions such as heat, drought and flooding, which are becoming increasingly important for potato yield under the challenging growth conditions of the future due to climate change.

MBEYA'S Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (Tari) is working on research that centred on increasing potato yields using irrigation system, a practice rarely used in the country. The research centre at Uyole has already done paper research that producers promising outcome. The next stage is a field research that geared not only to boost output but also controlling potato scabs. The Tari-Uyole Center Director, Dr Tulole Bucheyeki, said they are carrying the research since there are huge potential since most farmers are depending on rains. "Irrigation has a huge influence on potato yield," Dr Bucheyeki told Daily News adding farmers have the potential to cultivate twice a year-during rain and dry season. The Director said at the moment the centre is digging wells and expect to collect rain water in the coming season and use the same for researching purpose next dry period. "Our research will irrigate potatoes using sprinklers," he said. Sprinkler systems are more versatile than furrow irrigation systems and can apply fertilisers and some pesticides effectively and uniform water application is most easily achieved with sprinkler systems. Also, sprinkle can easily control over irrigation that may cause hollow centres, cracks and poor quality and to keep the moisture level constant is to reduce scab. The centre said after the research findings expect to produce seeds around the clock that are best for dry and rain season.

The AKILIMO Digital Platform was launched in 2020, by The International Potato Center (CIP,) Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the One Acre Fund to address low yield challenge in the country.

The Call for abstract submission of the World Potato Congress 2022 (WPC 2022) is now open and authors are encouraged to submit their abstract online for consideration. The WPC 2022 will be hosted by the Irish Potato Federation in Ireland, 30 May-2 June, 2022. 

The deadline for poster submission is next 15th February 2022. Authors will be notified if their submission has been accepted for poster presentation on 15th March 2022.

at triennial event is organized by the non-profit World Potato Congress (WPC) Inc., which is dedicated to supporting the global growth and development of the potato. The designati

 The production of high quality seed remains a key challenge in the development of the Kenyan potato industry.