Workshop Report: Alito Potato Farming Value Addition and Processing

  written by Elfas Mcloud Zadzagomo Shangwa.

Fig 1: What Potato needs. 

Location: Alito, Kapelebyong District, Eastern Uganda

Hosting and Implementing Organization: Destiny Community Development Initiatives (DECODI)

Project: Rural and Urban Agriculture Innovative Production Program (RUAIPP)

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Day 1: Introduction to Potato Farming and Value Addition

Topics Covered:

1. Mindset Change in Agriculture: Emphasizing the shift towards innovative agricultural practices.

2. Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Understanding the differences and the importance of adopting a growth mindset for personal and agricultural development.

3. Processes of Changing Oneself: Strategies for self-improvement and embracing change in agricultural practices.

4. Time Management: Techniques for efficient time allocation to enhance productivity in farming.

5. Overcoming the Past: Learning from previous experiences to improve future agricultural outcomes.

6. High-Value Crops: Identifying and learning to grow crops that can yield higher economic returns.

7. Financial Management: Basic principles of managing finances, focusing on investment in agriculture.

8. Introduction to Potato World: Overview of global potato farming trends and practices.

9. Case Studies on USA: Analysis of income generated from potato product exports.

10. Commercial Benefits of Potato: Discussion on the economic impact of potato farming.

11. Health Benefits of Potato: Presentation on how potato consumption affects health, including high blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cancer prevention, mental health, heart health, energy levels, and kidney stone prevention.

Potato Varieties:

· Global Varieties: Explored different types, colors, characteristics, categories, and generations of potatoes.

· Ugandan Varieties: Introduced varieties such as Rwangume, Kinigi, Nakapot 5, Kachwe 1, Rutuku, and NARO series1.

Practical Demonstrations:

· Videos on innovative cultivation methods like growing potatoes in buckets, grow bags, crates, and vertical gardening.

· Insights into the Botswana potato projects by Farmer’s Pride International, focusing on sustainable practices from 2022 to 20242.

Knowledge Transfer:

· Bill of quantities, cost of production, and profit analysis for potato farming3.

· Pest and disease management strategies, emphasizing biosecurity4.

· Value addition and processing techniques, with a practical session on making potato crisps.

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Day 2: Advanced Cultivation Techniques and Value Addition

Topics Covered:

1. Sampling of Participants’ Crisps: Tasting session for crisps made by participants, followed by feedback.

2. Growing Potatoes in Open Fields: Instructional videos, texts, and illustrations on field preparation and planting.

3. Potato Life Cycle: Detailed explanation with illustrations and videos on the stages of potato growth5.

Practical Demonstrations:

· Land preparation techniques, including ploughing with machinery and ox-drawn ploughs.

· Application of biosecurity measures, pest management, and use of additives, manure, and fertilizers.

Value Addition:

· Discussion on businesses related to potatoes, including storage and packaging best practices67.

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Day 3: Hands-On Experience and Conclusion

Field Practice:

· Participants practised planting potatoes in bags and open fields, marking planting holes, adding Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate), and covering and watering the tubers.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:

l Assessment of the training’s effectiveness of the training method used, and the practical skills acquired by the participants

 

l Discussed SMART objectives and pathways for future potato farming initiatives.

l Establishment of SMART objectives and pathways for the continuous improvement of potato farming practices.

Recommendations to DECODI:

· Encourage the adoption of innovative farming techniques showcased during the workshop.

· Continue providing support for value addition and processing to enhance market competitiveness.

· Implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure the impact of the RUAIPP project on local communities.

This workshop has successfully laid the groundwork for sustainable potato farming practices in Alito, with a focus on value addition and processing to improve livelihoods and food security.

To expand your knowledge, see references below:

1: CGIAR - Newly Released Robust Potato Varieties in Uganda 6: FDA - Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for Potatoes 7: SEE Rural - Guidelines for the Harvest, Packaging, and Storage of Potatoes 4: CIP - Potato Pest and Disease Management 5: The Old Farmer’s Almanac - Growing Potatoes in Containers 3: SpringerLink - Cost of Production 2: Farmer’s Pride International - Bag Potato Farming