First Lady Rachel Ruto commissions 11-month training for 210 Kenyans in Israel

First Lady Rachel Ruto on Tuesday commissioned a training exchange programme which will enable 210 Kenyan trainees to take part in the 2023 Mashav Agricultural Training Program in Israel.

The programme is an 11-month practical training at the Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) which is based in Southern Israel. 

Speaking at the event, the First Lady lauded the successful cooperation between Kenya and Israel, which has resulted in the exchange of Kenyan trainees in key fields such as security, medicine and agriculture. 

This is aimed at helping counter the number of arid and Semi-Arid Areas (ASAL) which adds up to a total of 23 counties out of the 47 counties in Kenya.

The 2023 Mashav Agricultural Training Program is a product of the strong relationship between these two nations in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and prioritises agriculture as a key sector for economic growth, food security, job creation, and industrialization. 

The trainees are expected to return to Kenya equipped with skills and fresh perspectives and contribute to the development of the nation.

Deputy Head of Mission of Israel in Kenya Drova Dorsman Yarkoni, said: "We aspire to have as many AICAT Alumni as possible harness their training to be successful in the Kenyan Agriculture sector."

"The goal is to give these young, educated, and skilled individuals a chance to become successful agri-preneurs by providing innovative solutions on food production and food security in Kenya," said Yarkoni.

The Principal Secretary, of the State Department of Crop Development, Kello Harsama, on his part, said that the Training Centre located in the Arava desert will be a great inspiration for the trainees to create solutions for agriculture targeting the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kenya, which covers 23 out of the 47 counties in Kenya.