Israel irrigation model farm, research and innovation hub in Embu

Farmers in the Semi-arid parts of Embu and adjacent counties are set to benefit from advanced  irrigation technologies to produce food after the Israel government established an eight-acre model farm  at DonBosco in Embu County.

The farm manager at the DonBosco Agricultural Innovation and Technology Center  (AITeC-Embu) Joseph Momanyi said they have created a collection center where they will help farmers with marketing their produce besides training,offering  extension services and selling seedlings to them. 

Embu Deputy Governor Kinyua Mugo observed that the farm has been set after a memorandum signed two years ago and will teach farmers how to harness advanced irrigation technology through use of little water and chemical in arid areas.

He noted that the county government  of Embu will collaborate with young farmers to ensure the youths are engaged in farming through Agricultural Innovation and Technology Center  (AITeC) in Embu for food security.

"We have noted that young people do not participate in farming activities and through the Israel technology we want to bring them on board," Mugo said 

The deputy governor  is optimistic that farmers will be introduced to Israel’s farm technology and expected to adopt it across farms in the county adding that similar farms are found   in Dodoma Tanzania and Addis Ababa Ethiopia. 

The Chair Senate committee on Agriculture Kamau Murango noted that the technology will help Kenyan farmers conserve the little available water while helping in Climate change mitigations.

Murango urged Kenyan Ambassadors abroad to aggressively look for markets to agricultural products from Kenya as the technology will increase production.

"This technology will increase our food productions which goes along way in providing food security to our people and we support such initiatives at the senate," he added

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji noted that ebracing technology in agriculture will uplift the youths who have remained jobless while encouraging farmers to take advantage of the center.

The programme is designed to have a multiplier effect enabling Israeli innovation to reach the smallholder farmers across Embu County and is hoped that the model will be replicated elsewhere in Kenya after around two and half years. 

The Israelis, who are reputed for their ability to use irrigation to turn an otherwise arid nation into the greenest on the planet, said they hoped the project would see successful technology transfer to Kenyan smallholder farmers. 

The center, located at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Embu, is a joint initiative between the Israeli government, the Don Bosco Eastern Africa Province, the Water for Mercy organization, and other partners such as the University of Embu

The AITeC-EMBU center is expected to train over 300 young farmers per year from Embu County and beyond, equipping them with knowledge and skills that will enable them to become self-reliant and productive members of society. 

The center is also expected to serve as a hub for research and innovation in agriculture that will benefit not only Kenya but also other countries in Africa