Kenya's goal of achieving food and nutrition security gained momentum when the Zambian government decided to provide Kenyan farmers land in that country for extensive farming.
Mithika Linturi, the cabinet secretary for agriculture and livestock development, announced this following Monday's bilateral talks in Lusaka with Reuben Mtolo, his counterpart from Zambia.
According to Linturi, Kenya and Zambia would sign a memorandum of understanding to give Kenyan farmers twenty thousand hectares of land for extensive cropping.
By enabling Kenyan farmers to obtain licenses to engage in farming in Zambia and export their produce to Kenya, the agreement will assist the country in attaining food security, according to Linturi.
Mtolo claimed that because Zambia's weather patterns favour food production, the alliance will boost Kenya's efforts to achieve food security.
We have decided to permit Kenyan farmers to establish large-scale agriculture in Zambia and sell their harvests to Kenya. That will benefit Kenyans since we have one of the best farms and the best farming weather in Zambia, according to Mtolo.
In addition, as a short-term solution to Kenya's present drought issue, the Zambian government has agreed to provide Kenya with its excess corn.
There follows a shortage of maize in the nation, which has driven the price of maize flour. Zambia is an agricultural nation that grows enough maize to feed its 20 million citizens while exporting excess maize to the African market.
"Our immediate goal is to stabilize pricing and demand for maize flour in Kenya. However, our long-term strategy is to work with large-scale farmers who would grow maize exclusively for the Kenyan market, Mtolo continued.
Linturi, for his part, commended the Zambian government for its desire to cooperate in ensuring the food security of both nations.
"President William Ruto's administration will take every feasible step to lower food prices by using innovative strategies like these partnerships. The Zambian government's willingness to provide land blocks to Kenyan farmers so they can grow food for export markets makes me glad, the CS said.
The Cabinet Secretary also warned Kenyan farmers to store maize while they wait for maize prices to increase so they may release their yields.
"Those Kenyan farmers hoarding maize are wronging our people, they say. He continued very soon; we'll have enough maize to lower the price of unga.
Linturi was accompanied by Kello Harsama, principal secretary for crops development, Flora Karugu, the Kenyan ambassador to Zambia, and other representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
