African governments, the private sector, research institutions and development partners have been urged to prioritize investment in potatoes growth by scaling up innovations, support value chain actors, and facilitate intra-African trade in root and tuber crops.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon Frank Tumwebaze who represented the Vice President Major Jessica Alupo Epel at the official opening of the 13th Africa Potato Association (APA) Conference that is taking place at Speke Resort- Munyonyo in Kampala.
The Conference which started today May 26th ends on Friday 30th May 2025 and is running under the theme “Fostering Climate-Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweetpotato Value Chains”.
These two crops of sweet and Irish potatoes offer scalable solutions for nutrition, income generation and environmental sustainability. The African Potato Association (APA) Conference was initiated in Nairobi – Kenya in 1987 and has seen its attendance swell from a modest 87 to a robust average of 300 delegates from across Africa and beyond.
This esteemed gathering has been a catalyst for mobilizing scientists in their quest to elevate sweet potato and potato to new heights of competitiveness and resilience.
There are key benefits for participating in the Africa Potato conference and these include Networking since it provides a prime venue for connecting with a diverse group of scientists, practitioners and industry players which is instrumental in forging valuable collaborations and partnerships.
During the conference, there is knowledge exchange as the event is a hub for the dissemination and acquisition of cutting-edge research, innovative breakthroughs and best practices in the cultivation, processing and utilization of potatoes and sweet potatoes.
With a rich agenda of talks, poster sessions and exhibits, the conference offers a wealth of opportunities for information across a spectrum of relevant subjects, enriching attendees’ understanding and viewpoints.
The Conference also acts as an incubator for launching joint research endeavors and ventures targeting the advancement of potatoes and sweet potatoes and discussions at the conference span topics such as breeding techniques, genetic advancements, sustainable seed systems, novel processing technologies, postharvest handling and strategies for pest and disease control, all aimed at bolstering crop resilience, utilization and economic viability.
The event also tackles strategic policy-making and large-scale implementation tactics essential for the progress of the potato and sweet potato industries in Africa.
These facets collectively drive the overarching mission to fortify the potato and sweet potato supply chains, thereby bolstering food security and propelling economic development across the continent.
The event has attractee hundreds of researchers, policymakers, farmers and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond and was organized in collaboration with Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), the International Potato Center (CIP), Food and and other global partners and it promises a rich agenda outcome.
Delegates are set to engage in knowledge-sharing on innovations in climate-resilient potato and sweetpotato farming, policy frameworks, market systems, and scientific breakthroughs aimed at boosting productivity and farmer incomes.
The choice of Speke Resort Munyonyo as the venue highlights Uganda’s rising role in agricultural research and development with its modern conference facilities and lush setting, the Speke Resort offers participants an ideal environment for dialogue, learning and collaboration.
This is the second time Uganda is hosting the African Potato Association Conference, marking the country’s growing influence in advancing root and tuber crop research.
