A recent conversation between Viktor Kovalev, editor of Potatoes.News, and Mark Dieleman, founder of Dieleman Potatoes and an entrepreneur with extensive experience in East Africa’s potato industry, shed light on their personal journeys in agriculture, their motivations, and their plans for the future development of potato farming in Uganda and Rwanda.
The Global Impact of Potatoes.News on Agriculture
Viktor shared his motivation to contribute to global food security, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeking broader international agricultural insights, he expanded the work on Potatoes.News, which now provides timely information about the potato sector worldwide. Viktor emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and experience to support farmers across different regions.
Mark Dieleman’s Journey in the Potato Industry
Mark recounted his path from the Netherlands to Africa, focusing on his early trips to Kenya and Rwanda where he helped set up professional potato value chains. Later, he established his own company, Dieleman Potatoes, in Uganda, specializing in the import of high-quality seed potatoes from the Netherlands. Among the challenges he faced were dealing with regulatory authorities and adapting to local conditions. Mark stressed the importance of certification and proper potato management in his work.
The Potato Sector in Uganda: Challenges and Opportunities
In Uganda, farms are typically small, ranging from one to five hectares. Key challenges include limited access to quality inputs, the use of outdated varieties, diseases (especially late blight), financial constraints, and a lack of effective crop rotation. Nevertheless, fertile soils and the potential for year-round cultivation with irrigation offer excellent opportunities.
Mark spoke about the introduction of new varieties, including the Markies variety, which is ideal for processing and increasingly popular in the frozen French fries market.
Plans for the Future
Mark outlined the main directions for the development of Dieleman Potatoes in Uganda and Rwanda:
• Continuing the import of high-quality seed potatoes.
• Expanding the distribution of the Markies variety.
• Developing professional potato storage solutions.
• Gradually increasing production and processing volumes.
• Exploring partnerships with other companies interested in the Ugandan and Rwandan potato markets.
Meanwhile, Viktor plans to:
• Create an account for Mark’s wife on Potatoes.News to post updates about their company’s activities.
• Publish an article with photos about the work of Dieleman Potatoes in Uganda and Rwanda.
• Consider visiting Africa next year to prepare a detailed report about the company’s activities.
Viktor Kovalev and Mark Dieleman demonstrate how international knowledge exchange and collaboration can support the development of agriculture and empower small farmers. Their dialogue highlights the importance of global cooperation to address shared challenges and opens new horizons for the potato sector in East Africa.
