Roots and tubers next food security and climate smart frontier

Root and tuber crops important in building resilience in food system /KNA

As Kenya and other African countries grapple with food insecurity, erratic weather and high input costs, scientists are turning to roots and tubers such as cassava, potato, sweet potato and yam.

They are the next frontier for food and economic resilience.

Dr Joyce Maru, regional director for Africa at the International Potato Centre (CIP) said these crops are not both climate-smart and nutritious but also hold untapped potential for value addition and job creation.

Root and tuber crops provide more than 40 per cent of Africa’s food supply, according to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

Over the past two decades, their production has increased by 107 per cent, now covering 16 per cent of the continent’s cultivated land.

Despite this growth, yields remain low, averaging 8.39 tonnes per hectare in 2023, slightly down from 8.41 tonnes per hectare in 2003.

CAADP projects that to meet future demand, yield for root and tuber crops must more than double, from the current 100 kilogrammes per hectare per year to 245kg per hectare annually.

This increase would help increase total food output by 45 per cent by 2035, but only if African countries increase investments in these crops’ productivity and value chains.

“Root and tuber crops are not just for food security, they are engines for resilience, local supply chains and economic growth,” Maru said.

She spoke during the World Congress of Agricultural Journalists 2025 in Nairobi, organised by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture.

Maru said science, research and innovation are essential to unlocking this potential.

She said CIP and its partners have developed biotech potato varieties that are disease-resistant and climate-resilient, providing hope for farmers battling frequent pest and disease outbreaks.

“Late blight disease reduces potato yields by 30 and 70 per cent globally,” the Potato Centre regional director said, calling it equivalent to losses about $10 billion annually in developing countries.

In Kenya alone, farmers spend roughly 12 per cent of their production costs on fungicides to control the disease, she said.

Adopting biotech potato varieties, she said, could save farmers millions of shillings annually by cutting chemical use while boosting productivity.

The International Potato Centre projects that Kenya could gain a net benefit of Sh845.9 million each year from planting these varieties.

In Rwanda, the benefits are also promising, as yields are expected to rise by 33-48 per cent and costs decline 4-5 per cent, translating to Sh762 million in annual net benefits.

“Reducing fungicide use not only lowers input costs but also minimises environmental harm and protects farmer health,” Maru said.

“This innovation supports climate resilience, enhances food security and stimulates rural economies.”

Experts say root and tuber crops are particularly well suited to Kenya’s climate and emerging market trends.

They have shorter growing cycles, can thrive in poor soils and are drought-tolerant, making them crucial during climate stress and food crises.

Maru said genetic improvement and innovation are key to addressing new threats such as bacterial wilt disease emerging from global warming.

“New genetic tools are now available to tackle these challenges and regional breeding networks are already accelerating progress,” she said, citing the Roots, Tubers and Bananas Breeding Programme and increasing private sector investments.

For instance, CIP has bred potato varieties such as Unica, which are adapted to lowland climatic conditions such as those in Kenya.

These innovations are seen as pivotal in transforming food systems and boosting farmer incomes.

Beyond productivity, Maru emphasised the need for investment in post-harvest management, mechanisation, regenerative agriculture technologies and digital tools to cut waste and improve value addition.

Rapid urbanisation and changing diets, Maru said are fuelling new opportunities in food processing and packaging, particularly for root and tuber-based products.

“The perishability and seasonality of these crops are not just challenges, they are business opportunities,” she said.

“Investments in storage, transport and food processing can create a win-win for farmers, youth employment, nutrition and the environment.”