Potato farmers in Nyandarua County have finally signed a deal with SimpliFine to grow the crop for the latter on a contract basis.
The farmers are set to benefit from lucrative contracts to produce premium varieties of potatoes for domestic food supply chains and export.
Through the lobbying of the Nyadarua County Government led by Governor Francis Kimemia, SimpliFine, a local processor and partner of American Black Ivy Group, has agreed to recruit farmers across the County to supply Markies and Shangi potato varieties.
The talks commenced in January this year when KFC could not cook chips after it ran out of imported potatoes, an issue that caused an outcry from locals.
While KFC maintained that it required certain varieties and specific qualities of potatoes, locals wondered why it was importing the produce while farmers were suffering from overproduction and glut.
Starting next month, SimpliFine, one of the suppliers of potatoes to the local franchise of the American fast-food chain, will start working with the farmers.
“We want to ensure that by April, we will have signed contracts with farmers in Nyandarua. We are working with the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to identify farmers who are ready to grow the required varieties while adhering to established standards,” said Steve Carlyon.
On the other has KFC has committed to start purchasing potatoes locally.
“My company is keen to contract farmers to grow the tubers throughout the year as opposed to the current cycle where there is a glut during the rainy season,” he said.
During a meeting with Governor Francis Kimemia at the County Government headquarters in Ol’Kalou, SimpliFine President, Carlyon agreed to engage farmers to come up with an off-take plan.
“SimpliFine’s commitment to engage Nyandarua’s farmers follows an earlier engagement Governor Kimemia held with KFC Chief Executive Officer, Jacques Theunissen,” said Carlyon.
Besides the partnership to buy potatoes from Nyandarua, he added that SimpliFine will partner with farmers to satisfy local and international markets.
The company recently commissioned a new processing line that will expand its production of frozen fresh potatoes.
He said apart from the Kenyan market, where the supply of high-quality potatoes is in high demand, the company had received inquiries from, among other countries, Indonesia.
Governor Kimemia said SimpliFine’s gesture was good news for potato farmers who have suffered immensely from a lack of a proper market.
“The County Government is ready to work with the processor and other partners to utilize the recently constructed cold storage plant in Ol’Kalou to prevent post-harvest losses,” he said.
The Governor observed that the potato tissue culture project in Ol’Jororok Sub-County would facilitate rapid multiplication of any seed variety required by the market.
He said the facility was using the latest technology to produce quality seeds.
Kimemia said the farmers could supply potatoes at an agreed price adding that his administration would continue supporting The County boss reiterated his commitment to continue supporting Nyandarua’s vibrant co-operative movement to create market linkages.
