Abstract:
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) play a very big role as a food security and income generating crop in Uganda. situation. Potatoes have a short growth cycle ranging between 75 and 110 days. The crop can therefore fit well in the existing cropping systems. Under optimal storage conditions, potatoes have a good shelf life and minimal storage losses. However growing potatoes in mixed cropping systems as currently practised by many small scale farmers where volunteers from previous crops are not weeded out has by now managed to spread serious seed borne plant diseases to most potato growing areas. This has resulted in declining yields and again undermined the possibility of good food security in These areas