Potato experts meet in Kampala to tackle Africa's production woes
The conference, which has attracted experts from across the sweet potato and potato value chains, will tackle issues such as declining productivity of the two crops amid rising demand.
A man displays value added products from sweet potatoes. All is set for the 13th African Potato Association Conference, which will take place from Sunday, May 25, 2025, to Thursday, May 30. (Courtesy photo)
Prossy Nandudu
Journalist @New Vision
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All is set for the 13th African Potato Association Conference, which will take place from Sunday, May 25, 2025, to Thursday, May 30, at Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo.
The conference, which has attracted experts from across the sweet potato and potato value chains, will tackle issues such as declining productivity of the two crops amid rising demand, how farmers can sustain production in the face of climate change, and the management of pests and diseases.
Other topics to be discussed include the nutritional value of potatoes and the challenges associated with marketing the crop.
According to a statement from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), hosts of the event, although Uganda produces 1.8 million metric tonnes of sweet potatoes annually, and despite the crop's potential to boost rural incomes and improve food and nutrition security, its full potential remains untapped.
This is largely due to the continued use of traditional varieties, limited value addition through industrial processing, and declining soil quality, the statement noted.
The discussions will cover breeding techniques, genetic advancements, sustainable seed systems, novel processing technologies, post-harvest handling, and strategies for pest and disease control. These are aimed at enhancing crop resilience, utilisation, and economic potential.
Running under the theme “Fostering Climate-Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweet Potato Value Chains”, the conference is jointly organised by NARO in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Makerere University, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Exhibitions at the conference
The conference will also feature exhibitions by stakeholders, including government institutions and private sector actors engaged in value addition for sweet potatoes. For instance, Divine Organics, which processes orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and carrots into baby foods, will showcase some of its products.