Is this Kenya's biggest sweet potato?

11-kilogram sweet potato harvested from Manoah Kilach's farm in Ngata, The variety of sweet potato, called Kenspot One, was sourced from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Nakuru County, on November 13, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

It’s only 9:30am, but the sun is already casting a warm golden hue across the Ngata area in Nakuru County.

Under the shade of a guava tree at his home Manoah Kilach stands proudly beside his wife, Zipporah, cradling a colossal sweet potato.

With a grin, Kilach steps toward a weighing scale hanging from one of the Guava tree branches, while Zipporah holds open a carrier sack, ready to assist.

The branch strains slightly as the needle on the scale climbs past 11kg. 

“This hefty tuber weighs in at an impressive 11 kilograms, this is the largest one I’ve ever harvested,” says Kilach, a retired teacher turned farmer.

“I’m sure there are even more on the farm like this, maybe even bigger.”

Kilach’s journey into sweet potato farming began 24 years ago.

Starting small, he gradually realised the crop’s potential, increasing the acreage on his two-acre farm at Ngata and on his other farm in his native Nandi County.

“I believe in keeping it natural,” Kilach explains as he crouches down to examine the rich, dark soil.

“All my crops are organic. I use manure from my sheep and goats, and I follow guidance from experts at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) on everything from seed selection to crop rotation.”

Kilach cultivates six varieties of sweet potatoes on his farm, all sourced from Kalro. He pauses beside a lush patch of the Kenspot One variety, known for its sweetness and resilience. It was from this very patch that he unearthed the 11-kilo marvel.

“I grow several varieties from Kenspot one up to six. I also have the Kabode variety. Back in 2015, I harvested a seven-kilo one, but this year’s yield has outdone itself,” he says.

Kilach’s organic practices are apparent in his approach to soil health, which he believes is key to his success.

“Good soil, proper care, and a bit of luck, that’s the secret to this kind of farming,” he shares.

“I take soil health seriously and regularly test it to see what nutrients might be missing. As for fertiliser, I rely entirely on farmyard manure.”

The couple guides us through neat rows of young sweet potato plants that won’t be ready for several months. Kilach believes these, too, hold promise for a large harvest, though only time will tell if they can match his recent 11-kilo find. 

Manoah Kilach, with his wife Ziporah, displays a 11-kilogram sweet potato harvested from their farm in Ngata. [Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

He is also part of a collaborative network of 36 local farmers who frequently visit his farm to learn new farming techniques.

“The land gives back what you invest in it. I work with 36 other farmers, and this farm was chosen as a demonstration centre for distributing cultivars and sharing best practices. Thanks to Kalro, we received seeds for free, and their support has been invaluable,” he said

Kilach’s reputation for quality produce has attracted interest not only from local farmers but also from markets in Nairobi. He regularly supplies buyers in Nairobi, including one from Burma Market, where a 90kg sack of sweet potatoes fetches about Sh5,000.

He also sells one-meter cuttings of his sweet potato plants to other farmers for Sh1,000 each, confident that they will yield a high-quality crop.

“People are willing to pay more because they know they’re getting a quality variety that guarantees a good harvest,” he notes. “My customers value healthy, organic sweet potatoes.”

Kilach encourages fellow farmers to embrace modern agricultural technologies, pointing out that many still rely on outdated methods.

“Many farmers here are slow to adopt new technologies, We’re in the 21st century, and we need to be digital. We can’t keep planting the same way we did decades ago. Here in Nakuru, we even lack certain micronutrients like selenium in our soil. We need to find ways to supplement these,” he said

With his sights set on the future, Kilach dreams of setting a new record. Currently, the largest sweet potato in the world weighs 37kg, but he’s optimistic about challenging it someday.

“Maybe one day. For now, I’ll keep refining my techniques and growing these beauties,” he says with a smile.

Beyond farming, Kilach is exploring the potential for value addition. He says he is working to acquire a starch processing machine, which will allow him to produce sweet potato flour for making local dishes like chapatis and cakes.

“Sweet potatoes aren’t just for boiling, they can be turned into nutritious crisps, or even used in porridge,” he explains.

His wife Zipporah agrees, saying that she adds sweet potato flour for making chapatis crisps.

“Sweet potatoes are healthier and more affordable than bread, especially with rising food prices currently in the country,” she says.

At 60 years old now, Kilach views farming as his second calling after teaching.

“I’m blessed to be able to do this. As long as I can walk these fields, I’ll keep going,” he added

Kilach said at the time he planned to take his prized sweet potato to his local church, where it would serve as a symbol of gratitude and abundance.