Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi has said the government is seeking to attract investors from Israel in a bid to boost local food security initiatives and make Kenya a food secure nation by 2030.
Linturi spoke on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel where he traveled as part of President William Ruto’s advance delegation.
“We are looking forward to signing agreements on Public Private Partnerships with some of Israel’s big manufactures in the agricultural value chain to address food security concerns in our country and benefit our small and large scale farmers in both crop and livestock farming,” he said.
Linturi said his ministry is working around the clock to adopt modern farming so as to increase agricultural productivity.
“We must move away from rain-fed agriculture and adopt modern farming like drip irrigation to improve food production in Kenya,” he added.
He was accompanied by Economic Advisor to the President, Augustine Cheruiyot.
Cheruiyot expressed optimism that Kenya and Israel will sign bilateral agreements that will be beneficial to both countries economically.
Ruto is expected to sign agreements on areas of mutual benefits to the two nations once he starts his two-day State visit to Israel at the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During the visit, Ruto and Netanyahu will hold high-level bilateral meetings and discuss subjects including agriculture, technology and innovation, manufacturing and defence cooperation.
Ruto is also expected to visit several agricultural projects in the Middle East country that is renowned for its mega strides in irrigation.
Israel boasts of successful irrigation and livestock farming despite having harsh weather conditions.