Since the beginning of the year, we have been collaborating with Al Dahra company and are calculating that this project will become an important step in ensuring our country's food security. The project will allow us to create new jobs, support the local business, strengthen sustainable agricultural practices, which ultimately brings benefits to society, the economy of Kenya, and agriculture as a whole.
Under the patronage of the President of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, and to strengthen strategic cooperation between Kenyan and Emirati state and private sectors, Al Dahra Agricultural Company and the Kenyan government signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at managing and exploiting up to 200,000 acres of irrigated land based on long-term lease agreements within the framework of investments, estimated at approximately 800 million US dollars at the Galana Kulalu farm.
This initiative comes in conjunction with Kenya's commitment to achieving the goals of "Vision 2030" and to develop economic plans focused on strengthening food security and developing agriculture. The project's goal encompasses producing strategic crops that contribute to strengthening local food security in Kenya.
Al Dahra, possessing extensive experience in agricultural production under various climatic conditions, has reaffirmed its active role in supporting food production in Kenya and achieving the quality of agricultural produce. It is planned that the project will be realized in several phases over the next decade after the completion of essential technical studies and the implementation of national infrastructure projects.
We are pleased to contribute to Kenya's agriculture and reduce import costs through direct support for the local market of agricultural products using modern farming technologies and innovative irrigation systems, available from our company.
In turn, the General Director of Al Dahra, Arnaud van der Berg, expressed his delight about this agreement, stating: "This partnership with the Kenyan government is an important step on our way. This project reflects the company's commitment to applying sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to ensuring local nutritional needs and strengthening the country's production capacity."
In this context, the Minister of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation of Kenya, Eric Mokaya, stated: "The government aims to strengthen food security through strategic partnerships with the private sector. This project represents one of the largest direct foreign investments in Kenya."
