East Africa prepares for late blight-resistant potato from Peru
New potato variety could reduce farmer losses and boost productivity across the region.
EAST AFRICA – A late blight-resistant potato variety developed in Peru, known as CIP-Asiryq, is set to reach East African farmers in the coming years, offering a potential solution to one of the region’s most destructive crop diseases.
The International Potato Centre (CIP) and its partners created CIP-Asiryq using wild potato relatives with natural resistance. The variety will be shared with breeding programs under the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, including initiatives in Kenya, where potatoes rank as the second most important staple.
Thiago Mendes, a researcher on the development team and a member of an East African plant breeding network, is collaborating with Kenyan experts to guide local adaptation. “We are working closely with farmers and researchers in Kenya to ensure the variety performs well under local conditions,” Mendes said. The project will also extend to Rwanda, Uganda, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, and Malawi.
Late blight continues to limit potato production in the region. The National Potato Council of Kenya reports yield losses reaching up to 80 percent. Across the East African highlands, approximately 2.5 million smallholder farmers rely on potatoes for both income and food security.
In Kenya and Uganda, losses due to late blight can reach 70 percent. In Uganda alone, CIP estimates annual losses of more than US$129 million.
Benefits of CIP-Asiryq
Derived from the wild species Solanum cajamarquense preserved in the CIP genebank, CIP-Asiryq could reduce global farmer losses by an estimated US$3–10 billion annually. The variety requires fewer fungicide sprays and cooks 25 percent faster than Peru’s Yungay variety. According to CIP, “CIP-Asiryq shows strong potential for both table and processing markets.”
Raul Canto, coordinator of the agrobiodiversity area of the Yanapai Group, added, “This potato variety was developed for fresh consumption, not specifically for processing, but some producers do grow for the processing industry.” He noted the flexibility could open additional income opportunities for small producers and meet processing company demand.
The development began under the Crop Wild Relatives project and advanced through the Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development (BOLD) program, coordinated by Crop Trust with support from the Norwegian government.
Mendes emphasized the variety’s potential for growers outside East Africa, noting its versatility in Peru’s Huanuco region, where farmers use it both for fresh consumption and processing. He stated, “The adaptability of CIP-Asiryq could provide a reliable option in other regions facing late blight pressure.”
This move comes alongside broader efforts to strengthen potato resilience in Africa, highlighting the growing role of international collaboration in addressing crop diseases that threaten food security and farmer livelihoods.
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