Kisoro District Potato Growers Cooperative Union Limited (KDPGCU)

Round Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an easy-to-grow tuber that offers food security and commercial benefits to farmers. Its array of cuisines and growing demand places farmers to reap (3) fold higher incomes from its production than other staples. However, potato quantities remain relatively low due to challenges in production capacity, low availability of quality seed, shifting climate systems.

Addressing this challenge in Kisoro District, through climate-proof approaches and a sustainable market is KDPGCU, a CRAFT business champion.

Key Interventions

Enhance the capacity of 3,000 smallholder farmers to improve potato output by 15% through climate-smart agronomy, linkages to input suppliers, and mechanized farming by 2022.
Improve resilience to climate Change amongst targeted farmers through the promotion of appropriate climate-smart agricultural practices.
Improve efficiency in soybean inputs delivery, agronomy, and markets access
Improve business turnover by at least 10% through developing new market channels and increasing volumes of soybean marketed.

About the Business Champion

Kisoro District Potato Growers Cooperative Union Limited (KDPGCU) was established in 2014 and is registered by the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives. The company has a membership of 4,122 farmers operating in 12 cooperative societies for efficiency.

KDPGCU’s business model depends on the distribution of inputs, provision of extension services, and the collective purchase and marketing of potatoes. Most of its potato is supplied in markets such as the Kalerwe market in Kampala, institutions, restaurants, and supermarkets. The union also distributes potatoes to Rwanda.

Round Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an easy-to-grow tuber that offers food security and commercial benefits to farmers. Its array of cuisines and growing demand places farmers to reap (3) fold higher incomes from its production than other staples. However, potato quantities remain relatively low due to challenges in production capacity, low availability of quality seed, shifting climate systems.

Addressing this challenge in Kisoro District, through climate-proof approaches and a sustainable market is KDPGCU, a CRAFT business champion.

Key Interventions

Enhance the capacity of 3,000 smallholder farmers to improve potato output by 15% through climate-smart agronomy, linkages to input suppliers, and mechanized farming by 2022.
Improve resilience to climate Change amongst targeted farmers through the promotion of appropriate climate-smart agricultural practices.
Improve efficiency in soybean inputs delivery, agronomy, and markets access
Improve business turnover by at least 10% through developing new market channels and increasing volumes of soybean marketed.

About the Business Champion

Kisoro District Potato Growers Cooperative Union Limited (KDPGCU) was established in 2014 and is registered by the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives. The company has a membership of 4,122 farmers operating in 12 cooperative societies for efficiency.

KDPGCU’s business model depends on the distribution of inputs, provision of extension services, and the collective purchase and marketing of potatoes. Most of its potato is supplied in markets such as the Kalerwe market in Kampala, institutions, restaurants, and supermarkets. The union also distributes potatoes to Rwanda.