Investment opportunities and challenges in the potato value chain in Uganda

Abstract

Irish Potato is an important crop for food and income generation in Uganda. Indeed, the potato is recognized in the 2010/11- 2014/15 Development Strategy and Investment Plan (DSIP) as a strategic commodity with the potential to make a remarkable contribution both to increasing rural incomes and livelihoods and to improving food and nutrition security. Despite its potential, intensification levels remain very low in the potato sub-sector, translating into a very low yield. Farmers increase production by expanding the land used to grow potatoes, not by intensifying their activity. This study identified challenges and investment opportunities at various points along the potato value chain in Western Uganda (where more than 80% of the country’s potatoes are produced). The study adopted a value chain/multi-stage sampling method involving farmer groups, traders, processors, agro-input dealers, and seed potato multipliers. The value chain survey covered 51 farmer groups randomly selected from the sub-counties in which the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has conducted a socio-economic survey. During the survey, 30 traders and 30 processors (identified by farmers as key potato buyers in the community) were randomly selected. To examine access to inputs, a sample of 30 agro-input dealers and 30 seed multipliers (also identified by farmers as suppliers of inputs) were randomly selected. Overall, 120 key informant interviews and 51 focus group discussions were conducted. The study thus characterizes the main players in the potato value chain in Western Uganda.