The Nyeri County Government intends to partner with Israel in various key sectors as one way of improving the livelihoods of the residents.
Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who this morning hosted Israel Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Lotem, who paid him a courtesy call, said the County hopes to tap in the advanced technology of the Jewish State to boost agriculture, health and sanitation in the new deal.
Other areas of collaboration will include value addition, cottage industries, conservation agriculture technologies, agribusiness incubation for youth and trade partnership on value chain for avocados, macadamia and aquaculture.
“Israel is very strong on water retention, sewerage, irrigation and technology. These are some of the areas we want to collaborate on and learn best practices from Israel, as we share in the knowledge wealth. I would like to thank the Ambassador and wish to express interest in reinforcing a long-term working relationship,” he said.
Lotem who was accompanied by a team of agronomists and economic officers from the Embassy of Israel, said he was delighted to form a working partnership with Nyeri.
He said Israel was keen to undertake a collaborative partnership in health, agriculture and technology to boost the status of Nyeri as one of the most progressive counties in Kenya.
“We are here because of different areas of collaboration, including water, agriculture, technology, health and livestock and are keen to work with Nyeri. I thank Governor Kahiga for warmly expressing interest in the joint collaborative efforts,” said Lotem.
Nyeri and Israel have a working partnership that dates back four years ago.
On March 13 2019 Kahiga launched a similar working partnership with the Israel after he met the then Israel Ambassador, Noah Gendler and the two promised to collaborate in the areas of health, finance, education, water, ICT and environmental conservation.
The Israel government also promised to undertake training for County officials in selected fields, to improve service delivery.
Israel is one of the most celebrated countries in the world, famed for undertaking extensive reclamation works on desert land for agricultural purposes, putting the Middle East nation on the lead in production of fruits, vegetables, sugar beets, flowers and dairy products.
Since she attained independence in 1948, Israel’s total area under cultivation has increased from 165,000 hectares to some 420,000 hectares and the number of agricultural communities has grown from 400 to 900.
The success of the country’s agriculture stems from the determination and ingenuity of farmers and scientists who have dedicated themselves to developing a flourishing agriculture culture in a country which is more than half desert wasteland.
Also present during the event included Deputy Governor, David Kinaniri, Etyan Hatzor, an Agriculture expert from Mashav (Israel Centre for International Cooperation), Yariv Kedar, (Kedar Gap Ltd) and Erez Raviv (Baran Group Israel).
By Samuel Maina
