Feeding a Nation Sustainably: Innovating for Climate Resilience in the Potato Value ChainThis episode features Wanjiru Mambo, a successful entrepreneur in the potato food chain and the driving force behind Wedgehut Foods Limited, a thriving post-COVID business.Wanjiru discusses the potato industry's significant contribution to the Kenyan economy, approximately Kshs 50 billion, and its impact on the livelihoods of 3.5 million people in the value chain.As the second most popular staple food in Kenya, the potato industry boasts a wide variety of products, including crisps, chips, and mashed potatoes, supported by a diverse network of farmers with Wedgehut alone signing up over 3,000 farmers.Wanjiru highlights the challenge of post-processing losses in the range of 15-20%, within the potato value chain and the impressive existence of 60 potato varieties in Kenya.Wanjiru emphasizes the importance of climate-smart interventions to ensure the sustainability of the potato industry. She advocates for farmers to adopt practices such as soil testing, especially in areas degraded by chemical use, the use of certified seeds, proper farming techniques, and advanced technology, including allowing the soil to rest periodically.She reflects on the improved irrigation systems, such as solar-powered irrigation, that are also crucial for mitigating the effects of unpredictable rainfall.Wanjiru notes the demographic challenges within the farming community, including the prevalence of older farmers and a gender imbalance skewed towards men.

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