How farmers can take Kenya to first-world

The wettest part of Israel is drier than Kenya’s driest areas yet the country is a net exporter of food and horticulture. Israel Ambassador Gil Haskel shared with Francis Mureithi the secrets Kenyan farmers can adapt to change their lives.

Q: Israel is a net exporter of food and horticulture, yet a good part of it is dry. What is it that Kenya is not doing right?

They say necessity is the mother of all inventions. Israel has invented and is still innovating technologies of how to grow more with less (more yield with less resources), through drip technologies, smart greenhouses and so on.

The idea is to widely implement these technologies, even though they might initially seem costly and complex, but in time pay themselves back.
Kenya should import these technologies, which are cheap, and spread them, with country wide extension services to assist and train farmers.

Only a nationwide, government supported, professional network will turn agriculture in this country around and elevate it to its correct position.

You are also big on fish farming. What can Kenya learn from it?

We have fish ponds in deserts, which to many Kenyans might sound strange. Fish needs good quality water, feeds and a systematic method of breeding. To make sure we have quality fish, we even cover the fish pond with shades.

We do breeds such as ornamental fish, cold water fish, tropical fish and water lilies that are exported to Europe fetching good money.

What is Israel’s biggest challenge in agriculture today?

LABOUR COSTS

Initially, the biggest challenge was how to transform the desert country into an agricultural country. That headache we have solved, but the current challenge Israel is facing is how its products can compete in the world market considering that labour costs are very high and the price of land is also escalating.

In Israel, unskilled farm labourer is paid Sh87,000 ( $1,000) per month while a skilled labourer is paid Sh870,000 ($10,000). That is why when you produce an apple in Israel, it is difficult to compete with the prices of an apple that is grown in China.

So how has Israel tackled this problem?

Our farmers, through advanced technology, have increased efficiency such that from one acre they are able to double their produce through irrigation and proper use of fertiliser. This is why a trader in Europe would still prefer to buy an apple from Israel because of its high quality.

What programmes does Israel have for Kenya’s small-holder farmers?

Our Agency for International Cooperation initiates and implements development cooperation programmes, through which Kenya’s smallholder farmers can benefit from our expertise and technologies that have assisted Israel in its path to development. They can also benefit from training in Israel on site and long-term demonstration projects.

The Israeli experts can also train farmers in Kenya on invitation on specific topics such as water management, agribusiness, vegetable production, dairy, aquaculture, horticulture, bee keeping, pest management and post-harvest management of crops.

What agricultural technologies can Kenya borrow from Israel?

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY

The irrigation technology we have is undoubtedly one of the best in the world. This is one area Kenya should take advantage of and partner with Israel fully because a large part of the land in Kenya is still virgin with quality soils. This if well-developed can turn the country into a developed economy.

Israel is ready to bring its technology to Kenya and I would like to see it happening now that President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared Galana Irrigation Scheme one of the flagship projects of his administration. However, this would only be achieved if such an ambitious project is managed efficiently.

What specific measures has Israel taken to promote agriculture in Kenya?

We have exposed and trained thousands of Kenyans in the field of irrigation, water management and currently we have more than 100 Israeli experts in agriculture in Kenya.

Israeli companies are working hard to change the mindset of Kenyan farmers so that they do not rely on rains while they could utilise the rainfall by having water tanks, reservoirs and still practice drip irrigation and enjoy good returns.