Farm Safi Hub at the North Rift Trade Fair

(like peat moss or carbonized rice husk) and rooted under controlled, humid conditions for approximately three weeks. Field Transplanting (G1): The resulting strong, rooted cuttings are transplanted directly into the field in clean soil, where they develop into the Generation 1 (G1) seed tubers. Why ARC is a Game-Changer for Local Multipliers The economic and biological advantages of ARC technology are immense, particularly for small-scale seed multipliers in the North Rift: Rapid Multiplication Rate: Compared to using traditional mini-tubers, a single ARC can produce 10 to 25 or more clean seed tubers in the first field generation. This dramatically accelerates the availability of certified seed. Disease Freedom: Because ARCs originate from lab-cleaned tissue culture, they are inherently pathogen-free. This breaks

the cycle of disease accumulation that plagues conventional seed systems. Economic Viability: While initial setup for the screenhouse is required, the cost per plant and the production volume make ARC an economically superior choice. Starting with 1,000 cuttings, a multiplier can produce significantly more high-quality seed in two multiplication seasons compared to starting with mini-tubers. Decentralization: The simplicity of the screenhouse-based rooting process allows local entrepreneurs to establish small-scale nurseries, decentralizing seed production and improving farmers' access to clean planting material in a timely manner. Aeroponics: The Engine for Nucleus Seed (G0) While ARC provides the practical, field-ready planting material, the Aeroponics system serves as the high-tech engine at the very top of the seed chain, producing the absolute foundation

stock: Generation 0 (G0) mini-tubers. The Aeroponics Mechanism Aeroponics is a soilless system where virus-free tissue culture plantlets are suspended in a closed chamber, and their roots are intermittently misted with a precisely formulated nutrient solution. Maximum Efficiency: The mist provides perfect aeration and nutrient delivery, encouraging maximum tuberization. Aeroponics can achieve a multiplication rate of up to 10 times higher than conventional greenhouse mini-tuber production. G0 Breeder Seed: The small, clean tubers harvested from this system are the G0 mini-tubers. These tubers are then used to stock the ARC mother plant screenhouses or are multiplied to produce the earliest foundation seed. Year-Round Production: Being a highly controlled environment, the aeroponics system allows for year-round, continuous production of G0 seed,

ensuring a steady supply of new varieties and foundation stock. Far Safi Hub: Building a Resilient Seed System The Far Safi Hub training at the Trade Fair was designed to integrate these two powerful technologies into a cohesive strategy for regional seed multiplication. By demonstrating the controlled environment of aeroponics and the scalable simplicity of ARC, the Hub provided attendees with a complete solution: Variety Selection: Focus was placed on the rapid multiplication of high-demand, locally adapted varieties. Quality Assurance: Emphasizing the necessary sanitation and strict management practices (like isolating the propagation area and managing pests with targeted insecticides) required to maintain the pathogen-free status throughout the multiplication chain. Path to Certification: Outlining the regulatory process with KEPHIS (Kenya Plant

Health Inspectorate Service) for certifying G1 seed tubers produced from ARCs, ensuring market trust and premium pricing. The adoption of ARC and Aeroponics represents a critical step toward ensuring that every potato farmer in the North Rift Valley has access to clean, affordable seed, ultimately leading to higher yields, reduced input costs, and a more profitable and sustainable future for the entire potato value chain. Prepared by: Jeiffer Kilonzo, Marketing and Communications Department