By KT Reporter
Researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs have gathered in Kampala to exchange knowledge and experiences on potato and sweet potato production in Africa. The African Potato Association’s (APA) 13th Triennial Conference, co-hosted by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), is being held under the theme “Fostering Climate-Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweetpotato Value Chains.”
Participants attending the five-day conference are expected to reflect on the urgent need to align agricultural practices with environmental sustainability and resilience. Since its inception in 1987, the APA conference has grown into a respected platform for sharing scientific research, innovations, and strategies aimed at improving the production, processing, and marketing of these important crops across the African continent.
Scheduled for May 25–30, 2025, the conference is taking place in Kampala, Uganda, at the International Conference Center in Munyonyo. The event is expected to welcome participants from across Africa and beyond. Dr. Yona Baguma, Director General of NARO and President of the African Potato Association, stated that the conference will provide a platform for accessing new knowledge, tools, and technologies to address persistent and emerging challenges in the potato and sweet potato value chains.
He revealed that the event will bring together leading experts and partners to share insights, innovations, and strategies to advance potato and sweet potato value chains in Africa. The previous conference was held in Kigali, Rwanda. This year’s edition focuses on the role of innovation, research, and partnerships in building resilient, sustainable, and inclusive value chains for potato and sweet potato.
It serves as a platform to showcase cutting-edge scientific advancements, highlight transformative technologies, and foster collaborative networks across Africa and beyond. The Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze, was expected to open the conference, which will showcase innovative solutions to the challenges facing the potato and sweet potato sectors.
Uganda is currently the leading producer of sweet potatoes in Africa, especially in the eastern region where the soil and weather are particularly well-suited to growing this crop. Sweet potatoes are the third most important crop in Uganda after cassava and bananas, playing a vital role as a reliable food source during periods of scarcity. They are widely grown and consumed by the majority of Ugandans. The crop can be produced under marginal conditions such as low soil fertility and limited moisture, and it matures relatively quickly, within 3 to 6 months, compared to cassava, which may take up to 12 months or more. Despite its importance, the sector faces several challenges, including reliance on traditional varieties, limited value addition, inadequate post-harvest technologies, and low production knowledge.
It is also threatened by viral infections, particularly Sweet Potato Virus Disease (SPVD), caused by co-infection with Sweet Potato Chlorotic Stunt Virus (SPCSV, genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae) and Sweet Potato Feathery Mottle Virus (SPFMV). Globally, about two-thirds of the population consumes potatoes as a staple food. Nearly 50% of all potatoes are used as household food or vegetables.
Potatoes are highly adaptable, being resistant to drought, cold, and poor soils. It is estimated that by 2030, global potato production will reach 750 million tons—an increase of 112%. Of this, more than 440 million tons will come from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, representing a 100% increase and accounting for approximately 59% of global production.
The conference in Uganda is being held in the lead-up to International Potato Day on May 30, 2025. In December 2023, the UN General Assembly designated May 30 as the International Day of the Potato to raise awareness of its nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural value. The designation recognizes the potato as an invaluable food resource and a generator of income for rural families and producers, supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
