How technology is revolutionising potato farming in Njoro and Molo

A digital connector engaging with a farmer.
In the potato-growing sub-counties of Njoro and Molo, a team of young agricultural researchers is training rural young people to become “digital connectors”, bringing technology directly to farmers' fields.
Through their social enterprise, Nakuru Tubers, the group uses a web- and app-based tool called AgriConnect to transform how extension services are delivered within Kenya’s potato value chain.
The digital connectors use their smartphones to act as community extension agents, digitally assessing farmers, tracking production practices and relaying information to researchers.
This data helps to identify knowledge and production gaps, enabling the development and deployment of tailored training modules back to the communities.
“We’ve noticed that the challenges faced by our potato-growing communities are often different. Hence, our data connectors not only collect this data, but also identify gaps in potato farming communities, provide training in good agricultural practices and help us to customise solutions that meet those exact needs,” says Gailyne Muthoni, Nakuru Tubers' Agribusiness Manager.
According to Ms Muthoni, moving operations online was both a business strategy and a community intervention.

Farmers undergoing a training by one of Nakuru Tubers' co-founder, Enock Rugut.
'We wanted to increase our visibility as a start-up, but more importantly, we needed to reach more farmers, from production through the value chain to value addition. By going digital, we can train them, link them to markets and connect them to various input providers without being physically present in every village,” she says.
The enterprise also integrates product distribution into its model, enabling connectors to sell quality seeds and other supplies while sharing knowledge.
Farmers receive real-time advice on disease management and climate-smart practices via WhatsApp and social media platforms, replacing the traditional reliance on limited government extension officers.
Ms Muthoni notes that the team is expanding the platform further in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“We intend to upload our training videos to the app so that farmers can access step-by-step guidance whenever they need it. Our goal is not only to increase yields, but also to empower farmers to view potatoes as a business opportunity and encourage rural youth to engage with the future of agriculture,” she explains.
Nakuru Tubers aims to narrow the divide between scientific research, the experiences of smallholder farmers, and access to markets by using digital connectors as the link.