Potato Revolution in Kenya: Record Yields Without Fungicides

Solynta's potato varieties with high resistances against Late Blight provide Kenyan farmers with good yields, as demonstrated in a comparative field test during an extensive spray/no spray trial in Limuru, Kenya.

The trial, arranged in the spring of 2024 using G1 seed tubers from the previous season, provided solid evidence of the profound benefits of Solynta’s latest potato varieties for smallholder farmers, particularly regarding harvested yield and reduced chemical usage.

The trial was arranged in Limuru in the spring of 2024 using G1 seed tubers saved from the previous season. These seed tubers were produced from Solynta’s disease-free true potato seeds. Three hybrid potato varieties with double-stack resistances against late blight were planted alongside the Kenyan favorite potato variety, "Shangi."

With the appearance of late blight in the field after 3 weeks, the non-sprayed Shangi soon died. The Solynta non-GMO hybrid varieties with double stack genetic resistances, however, showed remarkable resilience, yielding over double the average Kenyan potato yield of 10 metric tons per hectare.

After 100 days, the inner 2 rows of a 4-row plot of each hybrid variety and Shangi were harvested. The graph below clearly shows the impact of improved genetics (and clean starting material) on the economics of farmers in the no-spray trial results.

Solynta's potato varieties are resilient and deliver high yield

Both SOLHY017 and SOLHY016, advanced experimental hybrids, produced twice the yield of the market standard Shangi under no-spray conditions. Farmers with limited access to fungicides can still achieve exceptional results.

The SolHy016 potato variety significantly boosts yields, producing nearly four times the average in Kenya.

Gerald Mutua, Director at CropCare Technologies:

"The results this season speak for themselves—smallholder farmers can now achieve more with less. Solynta’s hybrid potatoes offer an opportunity for farmers to increase yields, reduce input costs, and improve food security."

"This innovation is a vital step forward in helping farmers overcome two of the most significant challenges in potato production in Kenya: access to high-quality planting material and the devastating effects of Late Blight disease."

"These twin challenges have long limited yields for Kenyan farmers, but with Solynta’s hybrid varieties, farmers can now produce more resilient, disease-resistant crops, paving the way for a stronger, more sustainable agricultural sector. This is the kind of progress that will empower local farmers and build a resilient agricultural future."

CropCare Technologies is an agribusiness support service company aimed at establishing sustainable market linkages to support smallholder farmers in Kenya.

Charles Miller, Director of Strategic Alliances and Development at Solynta:

"These outstanding results confirm that making quality starting material available to Kenyan potato growers will empower them to produce sufficient potatoes, with limited or NO need for fungicides. Not only will these new hybrids improve their own livelihoods, but they will provide them with strong harvests with which to feed their communities."

All of Solynta’s hybrid potato varieties with genetic resistance yielded more than double the average Kenyan potato yield of 10 metric tons per hectare. One experimental variety, SOLHY016, yielded almost four times the result of the market standard Shangi*, for a total of 38,9 metric tons per hectare. SOLHY017 was not far behind, with a yield of 38.6 metric tons. 

*Both of these varieties, SOLHY016 and SOLHY017, are currently undergoing registration with KEPHIS, the Kenyan regulatory authority, and will be commercialized once registration is completed.

Solynta potatoes, triple the average standard yield for farmers

Solynta’s varieties also performed well when treated with fungicide, despite not needing the treatment to survive late blight.

Charles Miller:

"Even under fully managed and sprayed conditions, our varieties outperformed the average standard yield in Kenya, with yields over 4 times the average. This indicates that Solynta’s hybrid technology can be used by all farmers, even in challenging environments and in areas under high disease pressure."

"We are committed to empowering farmers with solutions that improve yield, reduce dependency on chemicals and build resilience in the face of supply uncertainties. Our mission is to support them in expanding their sustainable agriculture practices while enhancing global food security."

Solynta recently registered the first three of its hybrid potato varieties in Kenya. These three potato varieties are now available to growers in Kenya. Kenyan farmers, like many others around the world, have experienced shortages of seed tubers and other challenges in obtaining high-quality materials to grow their crops. With these new varieties, a new era of plentiful, healthy potato yields has arrived. Solynta will continue its efforts to bring its hybrid true potato seed varieties to more countries in Africa and worldwide.