Potato Waste Finds New Market as KALRO Promotes Soap Production for Farmers

Farmers could earn more from potatoes that would otherwise rot or be discarded as researchers promote soap-making as an alternative form of potato value addition.

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) is encouraging farmers, young entrepreneurs and other players in the potato value chain to explore potato-based soap as a way of reducing post-harvest losses and creating additional income.

KALRO researcher Faida John said the technology is particularly useful when farmers have surplus potatoes, damaged tubers or produce that cannot attract favourable market prices.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Marindas Seed Potato Centre in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, John said some farmers lose part of their harvest because potatoes are highly perishable and prices can fall during periods of high supply.

“When there is surplus production, most farmers would rather let their produce go to waste,” John said, explaining that the soap technology was developed to turn such losses into an income-generating opportunity.

The soap can be produced using either peeled or unpeeled potatoes, allowing processors to make use of more of the crop. The process uses locally available materials, including a blender, paper towels, troughs and sodium hydroxide, commonly known as caustic soda.

According to John, the potatoes are blended before being incorporated into the soap mixture. He said this approach allows some of the nutrients and antioxidant compounds in the potatoes to remain in the finished product.

Potato soap is currently selling for about Sh200 per bar, creating a potential small-scale enterprise for farmers and young people interested in value addition.

However, the technology requires proper training and safe handling of caustic soda. KALRO is offering training opportunities through its centres to farmers and entrepreneurs interested in learning the production process.

John said farmers do not need to grow a particular potato variety to benefit from the technology. Different varieties can be processed into soap, making it possible to use tubers already available within farming communities.

The researcher cautioned, however, that potato value addition should not be viewed as evidence that Kenya is producing more potatoes than it needs.

“We haven’t really fed ourselves. We can’t say we have a surplus,” he said, pointing to post-harvest losses and inadequate storage as major challenges facing the sector.

Farmers may sometimes delay selling their potatoes while waiting for better prices. Because the crop deteriorates quickly, however, prolonged storage without suitable facilities can result in greater losses.

Mechanical harvesting can also leave some tubers cut or damaged. Such potatoes may be diverted to livestock feed or abandoned, creating another opportunity for value addition.

Beyond soap, KALRO is promoting several other potato-based products, including dehydrated potato cubes, starch and potato flour. Potato flour can be used in baking and other food applications, expanding the crop’s commercial potential beyond fresh consumption, chips and crisps.

The push comes as Kenya seeks to strengthen its potato seed and production systems. The Marindas Seed Potato Centre in Kuresoi is expected to help address a reported 126,000-tonne shortage of certified potato seed in the country.

For farmers, the growing interest in potato processing offers an opportunity to earn from more than the fresh tuber market. Turning damaged, surplus or otherwise unmarketable potatoes into higher-value products could also help reduce waste while creating new rural enterprises.

With potato losses estimated at roughly 23 percent of the harvest before reaching consumers, researchers say greater investment in storage, processing and other forms of value addition will be essential to capturing more value from Kenya’s potato production.