The National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) has invited qualified contractors to submit quotations for the construction of specialized screenhouses aimed at increasing the production of disease-free seed potatoes through Rooted Apical Cuttings (RAC) technology.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Potato Research Centre in Tigoni under the Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative (KSPI), a project supported by AGRA.
According to NPCK, the project seeks to strengthen seed potato production while creating opportunities for youth engagement within the seed potato value chain. The council plans to establish two specialized screenhouses dedicated to the production of Rooted Apical Cuttings, a technology that is increasingly being promoted as a cost-effective and high-yield alternative to traditional seed multiplication methods.
Rooted Apical Cuttings are disease-free transplants propagated from tissue culture plantlets under sterile conditions. The technology enables seed multipliers to achieve significantly higher yields, producing between 10 and 25 tubers or more from a single cutting, while reducing the risks associated with recycled seed.
The proposed screenhouses will each measure 30 metres in length and 8 metres in width and will incorporate strict biosecurity features to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. The structures will include insect-proof netting, airlock entry systems, shade nets, drainage systems, footbaths, and compartmentalized sections for mother plant maintenance, rooting and propagation, and hardening of seedlings.
The proposed screenhouses will each measure 30 metres in length and 8 metres in width and will incorporate strict biosecurity features to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. The structures will include insect-proof netting, airlock entry systems, shade nets, drainage systems, footbaths, and compartmentalized sections for mother plant maintenance, rooting and propagation, and hardening of seedlings.
Interested contractors are required to submit company registration documents, tax compliance certificates, evidence of relevant experience in screenhouse construction, and a priced Bill of Quantities. Quotations must be submitted by June 25, 2026.
The investment is expected to contribute to the availability of quality seed potatoes in Kenya, a key factor in improving potato productivity, farmer incomes, and food security across the country