Kenya on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea to boost rice farming technology.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi signed the deal on behalf of the Kenyan government in Seoul, South Korea.
"I have today attended a Ministerial round table meeting in Seoul, South Korea, where on behalf of the Kenyan Government, I have signed MOUs dubbed K-rice belt," Linturi tweeted.
Linturi hailed the MoU which also involved other African countries(seven in total) adding that the deal will help Kenya and the other six countries to be food secure.
“South Korea is a role model in rice production where they transitioned from a food recipient country to a food exporter. This collaboration will benefit Kenya largely including technological advancement in rice production," Linturi said.
"With the kind of partnerships and innovations, Kenya will surely overcome food insecurity despite the climate change challenges."
In the deal, the South Korean government is set to pursue a project of building a Korean rice belt in Africa, known as the K-Rice Belt.
Linturi said that through the partnership, Kenya will become more food secure despite the challenges of climate change.
The CS added that the Korean expertise will be shared and rice varieties supplied to the seven African countries.
He said that with the aid of technological advancement in rice production, the collaboration will boost farming.
"South Korea is a role model in rice production where they transitioned from a food recipient country to a food exporter. This collaboration will benefit Kenya largely, including technological advancement in rice production," Linturi said.
South Korea will also transfer its rice cultivation technologies and supply rice seeds to the seven African countries. The other six countries are; Uganda, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Ghana, and Cameroon.
Linturi was accompanied by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organisation Director General, Eliud Kireger and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Director of Plant Protection and food safety, Collins Marangu.