The Grow Africa Partnership comprises over 200 companies and governments in 12 countries. These companies have made formal commitments with the government in the respective country to invest in agriculture.
Programme Reference
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5220
Key Results
Grow Africa works with the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) to support the development of a potato value chain. The platform has diverse membership from private sector, research institutes, academia, development partners, and farmer organisations (with membership of over 40,000 through the Farmer Organisations).
The platform has been at the core of developing the National Potato Strategy, adopted and endorsed by Central Government. The National Strategy now serves as a basis for development of county level strategies. County level strategies for Nyandarua and Bungoma have been developed. The Viazi Soko ICT platform was established and supports over 40,000 farmers with information on certified seed suppliers, market linkages, and dissemination of advisory messages on good agricultural practices.
Market linkages have been facilitated for at least 4 farmer groups; Green Silver farmer and Tunza Afya group from Nyandarua County, Milima Mitatu group from Nakuru County and Kirimara group in Meru and an estimated 490 tons of potato transacted with prices Ksh2/Kg higher compared to prevailing market prices. The platform is working with 15 additional farmer groups to secure the same with additional processing companies - Mcfries, Sereni Fries, Ojay greene, Gaea Foods, Wakulima market, Farmarich and Safe produce.
The platform has also had policy engagements, playing an instrumental role in lobbying government for enactment of the 50Kg packaging bag policy which protects the interest of smallholder farmers on pricing. The platform has also been instrumental in facilitating government accreditation of private certified seed producers.
The platform has been instrumental in connecting value chain partners, especially seed breeders and merchants to the regulatory bodies. Partners connected include Mahindra Agribusiness, Charmvi investment, Hygrotech, Kirinyanga seeds, HY Gene Biotech seeds LTD, Youth Agency for Development of Science Technology and Innovation (YADSTI) and 3 individual seed producers from Nandi, Trans Nzioa and in Uasin Gishu County.
