Crackdown underway for traders who break potato packing rule – KBC

The crackdown on traders and transporters who break the 50 kilogram rule in Irish potato packaging, as set out in the new regulations, is currently underway.

The regulations prohibited the packaging of potatoes in elongated bags and approved the 50 kilogram bag.

Nyandarua, Nakuru, Narok, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Meru and West Pokot counties are implementing potato regulations in collaboration with the State Department for Crop Development, Agriculture and the Authority Food, Kenya National Potato Council and Kenya Agricultural Council.

AFA Managing Director Kello Harsama has said he wants to ensure that packaging in the required 50kg standard is met and that the application will be implemented throughout the value chain, from farm to markets. . This will be extended to 10 other potato-producing countries.

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The chief executive said that after educating stakeholders on the regulations, they expect value chain actors to comply with the guidelines, adding that the inspectors were recruited and duly briefed before the crackdown.

They will be supported by law enforcement agencies of national and county governments.

In Nyandarua, Benson Kinyanjui Wairimu was virtually indicted and fined by Kshs. 120,000 for flouting the regulations on the packaging of 50 kilogram potatoes.

The trader was arrested in Kipipiri, carrying several bags of produce weighing more than 50 kilograms in a Mitsubishi FH KBL 332S.

He was transferred to Naivasha GK prison, pending payment of the fine or serving a one-year sentence. The court ordered the vehicle to be returned to the owner.

In 2019, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture issued the Crops (Irish Potatoes) Regulation, which governs the production, grading, storage, collection, transport, storage, marketing and the processing of Irish potatoes.

The regulations began to apply on April 1 after the entry into force of Article 42 of the 2013 Law on Agriculture, Fisheries and the Food Authority.

The Agriculture and Food Authority said the measures aim to eliminate middlemen who use bags stretched from 130 to 260 kilograms, resulting in price differences of up to 1,000 percent.

Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/authority-to-enforce-potato-packaging-guidelines/