Kenyan potato farmers continue to face challenges from middlemen who reportedly exploit packaging practices, according to recent developments. The Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPC), Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) have urged farmers to prioritize production improvements over disputes about packaging standards.
Local growers have criticized the Ministry of Agriculture for not enforcing a regulation mandating 110 kg sisal bags for potato packaging. Middlemen instead use 180 kg bags, selling the commodity at the same price as farmers, which has sparked complaints about unfair market practices.
"We encourage farmers to shift focus from packaging demands. Middlemen also handle other produce without packaging restrictions," FPC CEO Okisegere Ojepat stated during a Nairobi press conference. He noted the ministry has completed an impact assessment for the proposed regulation, which will now proceed to parliament for consideration.
Farmers remain determined to address what they describe as exploitative middleman practices. They advocate for field-level packaging to protect their interests, but industry groups maintain that regulatory measures alone will not resolve market imbalances.
