In 2019, Kenya’s potato sector experienced a landmark policy shift when the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), in collaboration with the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK), introduced a regulation to standardize packaging across the industry. The regulation, anchored in Legal Notice No. 113 of 2019, sought to cap the packaging of Irish potatoes at a maximum of 50 kilograms per bag. This move was not just about weight—it was about restoring fairness to farmers who for years had been at the mercy of an unregulated market.
Potatoes are Kenya’s second most important food crop after maize, contributing significantly to food security and rural incomes. Estimates suggest that the country produces between 1.2 and 1.5 million tonnes of potatoes each year. Yet, despite this volume, smallholder farmers who make up the bulk of producers often receive less than 30 percent of the final market value of their crop. The reasons are many: poor infrastructure, limited access to better markets and, perhaps most infamously, the exploitative practices of middlemen (brokers).
Before the 50kg rule was introduced, it was common for brokers to demand that farmers fill 90kg or even 120kg bags, while paying for only 70kg. This practice severely cut into farmers’ profits and, in some cases, even left them operating at a loss. It also posed health risks, as lifting these oversized bags repeatedly took a physical toll on laborers and farmers alike.
The rule’s introduction was welcomed with optimism in many potato-growing regions. In counties like Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok and Nakuru where farmer cooperatives are stronger and the value chain is more organized—adoption of the 50kg standard has seen moderate success. Reports indicate compliance levels of around 60 percent in such areas. The impact has been promising: better prices per kilo, less physical strain on handlers and a clearer, fairer system for all players in the value chain.
However, this progress is not uniform across the country. In open markets, especially during harvest peaks, non-compliance is still rampant. The informal nature of the potato trade in many areas means that brokers continue to dictate terms, often insisting on larger bags and offering prices that barely cover the farmer’s production costs. Many farmers feel stuck in this cycle, knowing the law exists, but lacking the support to insist on its enforcement.
Mr. Ruto, a potato farmer from Mau Narok, reflects the frustration felt by many: “We want to follow the 50kg rule. It’s better for us. But the brokers are very aggressive—they demand more kilos but pay less. After everything we invest, we just want to get value for our work. The government needs to support us on the ground, not just with policy but with action.”
Several issues continue to hinder full implementation of the rule. Enforcement at market centers and along transport routes remains weak, with few checks to ensure compliance. Many farmers, especially those not part of cooperatives, lack the bargaining power to resist broker pressure. The absence of traceability systems also makes it difficult to track where and how the rules are being flouted. Additionally, awareness remains low in some communities, where farmers and even traders are unaware that packaging over 50kg is not only exploitative but illegal.
But the vision behind the 50kg regulation is still achievable. Success stories from parts of Nyandarua and Nakuru show that when farmers are empowered through cooperatives, market systems can evolve to become more just and profitable. What’s needed now is not new laws, but the political will and logistical support to enforce the existing ones. Farmers need more training, access to accurate weighing equipment, market infrastructure and the confidence that if they follow the law, the law will also protect them.
The 50kg bag rule is more than a regulation; it is a symbol of a sector trying to reform itself. If Kenya is to truly support its potato farmers—men and women who form the backbone of food security—then this law must be upheld, not just on paper but in practice. Until then, the dream of a fair, efficient potato value chain will remain buried under 70g-90kg bags—heavier than the law and heavier than what farmers should be forced to carry.
