Sweet potato farming in Kenya is widely practiced on a small scale. It is a crop that grows in nearly all parts of the country. Sweet potatoes are grown by the cutting of vines that later form tubers. This article will show where sweet potatoes are grown and the growing of sweet potatoes in Kenya.
The areas where sweet potatoes are grown in Kenya include the North Eastern, Coastal, Western and Nyanza regions. In the Western region, Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia are leading in the production of sweet potatoes, while in the Nyanza region, Homa Bay and Kisii counties are leading.
These areas are suitable for sweet potato farming for the following seven reasons:
1. Production of sweet potatoes in these regions presents an opportunity for farmers to improve their food security situation and income from sales surplus.
2. In these areas, the input of this crop is low, making it ideal for farmers due to the rare use of fertilizers and pesticides on farms.
3. The regions have a ready market for sweet potatoes since they are consumed by many all over the country.
4. In these areas, the crops are weather resilient because they are rarely affected by climate change and rainfall patterns. They thrive in case the weather changes.
5. Sweet potatoes have higher returns since a farmer invests less capital but gains more profits.
6. Sweet potatoes grown in these regions take a shorter time to mature depending on the variety compared to other crops like maize.
7. Many people rely on sweet potato tubers as a staple food.
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Kenya
The growing of sweet potatoes in Kenya is done widely on a small scale, mainly for subsistence farming. The land should be cleared and crop residue or grass removed, then it should be ploughed and made into ridges.
1. Selecting Suitable Planting Material
Before planting, a farmer should select suitable planting materials for sweet potatoes. Certified seeds or vines can be bought mainly from KARI. The most suitable planting materials are vine cuttings because they give a high yield, are free from soil-borne diseases, and form big tubers.
Potatoes are done best in fertile sandy loam soil that is well drained. The temperature should be warm with a soil PH of 5.6 to 6.6. Planting of sweet potatoes is done during the onset of short rains or at the end of long rains in one season.
2. Preparation of Planting Materials
The vines are cut at a length of 25 to 30 cm, which is apical. Long lengths tend to waste material, and short ones give low yields and establish themselves slowly.
The cuttings are then stored for 1 to 2 days in humid conditions before planting to promote rooting at the nodes for easier establishment when planted.
3. Planting
At the time of planting, ridges are dug 1 m apart and 10 to 15 cm from one ridge to another. Planting is done either in a single row or a double row. In single row cutting, vines are planted in the middle of the ridge, 30cm between plants within the rows.
With the double rows, they are planted on opposite sides at 30cm between plants within the rows and 50 to 60cm between rows.
The cuttings are planted at an angle with vine ends towards the centre of the ridge. Two thirds of the cuttings are buried in the soil at a depth of 4 to 6 cm.
4. Fertilizer Application
Sweet potatoes do not require the application of fertilizer, but before planting, a little manure is spread over the bed to improve soil fertility and soil structure.
Although when the soils are poor, basal compound fertilizers like 17:17:17 fertilizer are applied.
5. Weeding
Weeds are mainly a problem during the first two months of growth. The first weeding is done after two weeks and the second weeding is done after another two weeks. Then earthing up is done.
6. Harvesting
In Kenya, tuber harvesting of sweet potatoes is done after 3 to 6 months, depending on the variety and environmental conditions.
When sweet potato leaves start to turn yellow and dry up, it will indicate the maturity of the potatoes. sweet potato harvesting can be done as needed as their is no fixed time to do the harvesting.
A quarter acre of land can yield up to 35 bags of sweet potatoes.
Young leaves however can be harvested at around 10-12 weeks after planting.
Sweet Potatoes Farming in Kirinyaga
Sweet potato farming in Kirinyanga is mainly for tuber production. They produce over 500 tonnes of sweet potato tubers every year.
Kiangwaci area in Kirinyaga county is well-known for tuber production.
Kirinyanga farmers use sprinkler irrigation systems to distribute water on the farm. The overhead high-pressure sprinkler is placed in the centre of the farm.
The main markets for sweet potatoes in Kirinyanga is the Sagana centre and Kagio market.
