ByZablonOyugi, February 02, 2026, The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), in collaboration with the International Potato Centre (CIP), has inaugurated a regional Potato Breeding Hub at KALRO Potato Research Centre, HRC-Tigoni, aimed at strengthening breeding infrastructure and accelerating the development of improved potato varieties in Kenya and the wider region.
The inauguration ceremony, held on January 29, 2026, marked a significant milestone in efforts to modernise potato research and enhance the competitiveness of the potato value chain.
The newly established breeding block is a joint investment by KALRO and CIP and is expected to address long-standing constraints in breeding capacity, seed systems, and the timely delivery of improved potato varieties to farmers.
The Potato Breeding Hub is designed to support the development of market-driven potato varieties that are resilient to climate change, pests, and diseases, while meeting evolving consumer and processing industry demands. By strengthening physical infrastructure and technical capacity, the facility is expected to shorten breeding cycles and improve the efficiency of varietal testing and selection.
Speaking during the event, KALRO Deputy Director General for Crops, Dr. Alice Murage, said strengthening breeding capacity and infrastructure was central to KALRO’s mandate.
“The strengthening of capacity and infrastructure for breeding is foremost on KALRO’s agenda to unlock the bottlenecks that have slowed the delivery of improved varieties,” she said. “This investment will also help address critical challenges in seed delivery while ensuring farmers access high-quality and resilient planting material.”
CIP Director General Dr. Simon Heck echoed her remarks, noting that the facility would serve both national and regional objectives.
“This new infrastructure will support the transformation of the potato sector by making it more competitive, productive, and resilient,” Dr. Heck said. “It will link innovation more closely with market needs across Eastern and Southern Africa.”
The event was jointly presided over by Dr. Murage and Dr. Heck and brought together senior officials from both institutions, including Dr. Benjamin Kivuva, KALRO Director for Crops Systems, and Dr. Joyce Maru, CIP Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The inauguration was hosted by Dr. Moses Nyongesa, Centre Director of KALRO–HRC Tigoni, who highlighted the centre’s role in advancing national potato research and innovation.
Dr. Maru underscored the importance of potato as a strategic crop in the region, saying, “Potato plays a central role in regional food and nutrition security as a fast-maturing, high-yielding crop for smallholder farmers.” She added that “the establishment of this Breeding Hub marks another important milestone in the long-standing research collaboration between KALRO and CIP.”
During a guided tour of the facility, the delegation received a briefing from Dr. Susan Otieno, a potato breeder at KALRO, who explained the breeding pipeline currently in place.
“Our selections are market-driven, with a strong focus on processing qualities and tolerance to late blight,” Dr. Otieno said. “These traits are critical for reducing production losses and meeting the quality standards required by both domestic and export markets.”
The establishment of the Potato Breeding Hub is expected to strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional leader in potato research while contributing to improved farmer livelihoods, enhanced food security, and growth of the agri-food sector.
