News Meager 10 percent in potato value chain goes to growers
May 31, 2025
By Abebe Fikir
A highly skewered potato value chain rendered local farmers at a disadvantage with middle men taking the lion’s share of proceeds, a study released on Friday in connection with the International Potato Day revealed.
More than 4.3 farmers grow potato in Ethiopia, the fourth largest grower of the starchy root after South Africa, Egypt and Algeria. South Africa leads with annual production of 37 million tons, Egypt 29 million tons, Algeria 31 million tons and Ethiopia 13 million tons.
Of the total production in Ethiopia, the study says, 80 percent is used as food by rural communities, with only 19 percent transported to urban areas to be consumed.
Amhara, Oromia and South Ethiopia regions are known for their potato production, according to the study, areas where 95 percent of the total production comes from. Although Ethiopia has a suitable ecology for potato production, yields are disproportionately lower than in other countries.
World Potato Center Country Director Setegn Gebeyehu said potato yield has been on further decline over the past three years to date.
Inability to employ improved potato seeds, low-level of adaption of relevant technologies, harvest losses due to absence of proper storage were responsible for lower than expected harvests.
Middle men, Setegn (Phd.) said were also responsible for meager trickle down to farmers in the overall potato value chain. Farmers, according to him, do not have a say in the potato market; they have to agree to prices determined by the parasitic middle men.
In the value chain, farmers get only 10 percent of proceeds, middle men 18 percent and 60 percent sellers, he said, adding in terms of production cost the farmers cover 60 percent of expenses.
According to Crop Research Director with Ethiopian Agriculture Research Institute, Fekadu Gurmu (Phd), potato is vital in the mix of agricultural foods to ensure food security.
There are more than 43 potato varieties in Ethiopia to date, of which Holeta Agricultural Research Center boasts more than ten, it was learnt.