As climate change and pests continue to threaten open-field farming, modern greenhouses are becoming game-changers for serious Irish potato farmers in Uganda.
Controlled environments not only ensure consistent yields, but also improve the quality of tubers, reduce disease, and shorten growth cycles.
Stephen Chemonges, a modern farmer from Tutungon village in Kapchorwa, is a pioneer of Irish potato growing in his area. Having grown the crop since 1998, Chemonges now leads by example and trains other farmers in his region on advanced techniques. One of his best innovations is using a greenhouse for high-value Irish potato varieties.
“I selected the best varieties like Markies, Taurus, and Panamera, and started using greenhouses to control temperature, moisture, and pests. This method gives me clean, uniform, and disease-free tubers,” he explains.
Inside his greenhouse, Chemonges uses baskets filled with sterilised soil. To disinfect the soil, he sometimes uses a special machine that applies direct heat or fire to kill pests, fungal spores, and bacteria.
This soil sterilisation technique is effective in eliminating pathogens without using harmful chemicals. Combined with lime and bio-pesticides, it ensures the soil is clean, disease-free, and ideal for growing healthy seed potatoes.
Henry Sekyewa an agronomist notes that growing Irish potatoes in greenhouses improves germination and reduces common diseases like bacterial wilt and late blight.
“With a greenhouse, you can grow potatoes all year round. The structure protects the crop from heavy rain, sunburn, and wind damage. Plus, farmers can rotate quickly due to faster maturity,” Sekyewa adds.
Chemonges sells seed potatoes at a premium price to other farmers. “My greenhouse is not only a farm; it’s a learning centre,” he says.
