Chief Executive of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Dr Olufemi Oladunni, has called for stronger collaboration between government and private investors to reposition Nigeria’s potato industry for growth and competitiveness.
He said closer cooperation would help improve productivity, raise annual yields and accelerate the development of farming communities involved in potato cultivation. According to him, a coordinated approach is essential for building a more efficient and market driven agricultural sector.
Oladunni noted that such partnerships could also enhance the industry’s ability to compete favourably in both domestic and international markets, adding that sustainable progress in agriculture depends on aligning public policies with private sector capacity.
His remarks come amid growing concern among stakeholders who believe that current support measures for the potato value chain are inadequate. Industry players have continued to push for clearly defined and time bound policies that can strengthen farm incomes, expand processing activities and support export growth.
They maintain that deeper reforms are needed to address persistent inefficiencies across the supply chain, which have continued to limit the sector’s full potential.
At the same time, efforts are underway at the continental level to improve sweet potato production through science and innovation. The International Potato Center, working with national research institutions and backed by support from the Gates Foundation, has launched a multi country programme aimed at validating improved sweet potato varieties for large scale adoption.
The initiative, introduced at a meeting in Nairobi earlier this year, brings together experts from Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique to test high performing varieties under real farming conditions.
The project focuses on advanced field trials that allow farmers to directly compare selected varieties based on yield, maturity, resilience and cooking quality. Consumer preference assessments and laboratory analysis are also being used to guide selection.
Preliminary outcomes from trials in Nigeria and other participating countries suggest that some of the new varieties deliver higher yields than widely grown types, alongside improved quality traits and strong consumer acceptance. A number of these candidates are now being prepared for official release following regulatory processes.
In addition, the programme seeks to strengthen collaboration between research institutions, improve data systems and promote the use of digital tools in agricultural decision making. Demonstration farms and extension partnerships are expected to support wider adoption among farmers.
