By Umar Nsubuga
Moses Kiptala, the former best farmer in Kween owns an ambient store.
He says in an ambient store, the Irish potatoes can stay fresh for more than three months if stored at room temperature.
He explains that the ambient store is designed to keep the produce safe from excess heat, humidity, pests and rodents.
“It is constructed to provide darkness, aeration and temperatures that can keep potatoes fresh for up to three months, allowing a farmer ample time to find a market,” he says.
Kiptala says storing potatoes in an ambient store saves farmers from a 40% loss.
“An ambient store can take 600-1000 bags of potatoes. Put your potatoes in an ambient store during a bumper harvest when prices are low. These potatoes can stay for over four to five months without losing taste, colour or weight,” he explains.
The unique ability of the ambient store is to preserve potatoes for a lengthy period.
He says the top of the store has openings where the heat and air are released by potatoes.
“The aeration thus occurs through the fresh-in-hot-out mechanism, so the potatoes spread out on the timber floor inside the store stay fresh as though they are in the soil,” he explains.
