Irish potato farming
Over the past decades, Irish potatoes have become a staple food in Ugandan and many other East African households. This increasingly popular crop can be prepared in multiple ways such as boiled, baked, mashed, roasted, jacket and fried. The high nutritional value of potatoes makes it a healthier alternative to cassava, maize and matoke. Together with the wide variety of gastronomic possibilities, this makes the Irish potato a highly demanded product.
Although Irish potatoes are relatively easy to cultivate, it is essential that the seed potatoes farmers use are free of diseases and viruses. The Ralstonia solanacearum bacteria causes bacterial wilt in plants and is a widespread problem in Uganda. It does not only affect potatoes but also makes crops from the same family wilt, for example tomatoes, eggplants and green peppers. Farmers who use infected seed potatoes can lose up 70 % of their harvest due to the disease.
Kilimo Kisasa Limited produces and sell disease free seed potatoes to farmers in Uganda and surrounding countries. We use intensive hygienic protocols in our mechanized cultivation and storage and use a strict sorting strategy to minimise diseases like Ralstonia in our seed potatoes. While most seed potatoes in Uganda are produced in Kigezi and Elgon regions, our farm is located in Zombo district, where disease-free land is abundant. Our mechanized farming practices enable us to plant many acreages and fill the high demand for seed potatoes in Uganda, DR Congo and other East African countries. These practices allow Kilimo Kisasa Limited to produce large quantities of seed potatoes that are free from diseases and ready to plant for farmers.
Varieties available
Sagitta
Sagitta is an early variety Irish potato developed and patent by HZPC in the Netherlands, and registered in Uganda since 2016. Its a high yielding variety with a yellow skin and a oval shape. Sagitta a tasty variety and ideal for French fries and cooking. It is slightly more susceptible to late blight and bacterial wilt than Rwangume, but with the right handling it's a very rewarding potato.
More information on Sagitta: https://web.hzpc.com/teeltbeschrijving/SAGITTA_C_EN_FRENCH%20FRIES.PDF
Rwangume
Rwangume (NAROPOT 4) is an early variety Irish potato developed by the International Potato Centre (CIP) for multiple East African countries including Uganda. Its robustness and disease tolerance makes it a popular local potato variety for farmers. In our experience, Rwangume is relatively tolerant against blight and bacterial wilt compared to other local varieties. Rwangume an all-round potato variety and suitable for French fries, crisps and table consumption (cooked, mashed, etc.)
More information on Rwangume and potatoes in Uganda: https://naads.or.ug/irish-potatoes-production/
Taurus
Taurus is a late maturing Irish potato developed and patent by HZPC in the Netherlands, and registered in the East African Community. It's a good yielding variety with a yellow skin and a round shape. It is drought resistant, late blight resistant and very easy to store. However, the long storage duration makes it unsuitable for multiplication in two seasons, like in Uganda. Taurus is excellent for crisps and is highly demanded by the crisp industry in East Africa. (Taurus is only available on special order).
More information on Taurus: https://web.hzpc.com/teeltbeschrijving/TAURUS_C_EN_CRISPS.PDF