The Ministry of Agriculture has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Macfrut, an Italian premier fruits and vegetable exhibition organisation.
The agreement aims to enhance horticultural cooperation between Kenyan and Italian companies, fostering partnerships in the agribusiness sector.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration, focusing on the development of the fruit and vegetable industries in both Kenya and the European market.
To manage the implementation of the MoU, a Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) will be formed, comprising six members.
Each party will appoint three representatives to the committee, which will be responsible for drafting annual action plans and submitting reports on agreed activities.
During the signing, Agriculture and Food Authority of Kenya (AFA) chairman Cornelly Serem committed to the Mou saying, “We have received with gratitude your (Macfrut) offers and we promise on our end to produce the best fruits and vegetables that are up to international standards”
As part of the agreement, Macfrut will facilitate the organisation of an annual exhibition in Kenya to promote local fruits and vegetables, and help Kenyan agricultural products gain international exposure in Italy and across Europe.
In return, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) will mobilise key industry stakeholders in Kenya to participate in the Macfrut fair.
This partnership will benefit Kenyan technicians and producers in areas
such as cold chain management, fruit and vegetable farms, nuts and oil crop
farms and agro-processing sectors.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy and the deal with macfrut is so timely as it offers Kenya’s rising youth population with employment avenues that spring out to the international market in Europe,” Italy’s ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali said.
Other key areas of focus in the MoU include the transfer and exchange of new technologies, organic farming, bio solutions, irrigation systems and fruit processing techniques.
In addition, the MoU outlines plans to strengthen the cooperation between AFA and Macfrut to improve market access and trade for fruits, vegetables, nuts, oil crops and related products, benefiting citizens in both countries.
The parties will also carry out technical and commercial cooperation initiatives aimed at developing the agricultural sector, particularly in the fruits, vegetables, cut flowers and oil crops sectors, in line with the unique characteristics and needs of each stakeholder.
These activities will be framed around the Macfrut event.
The signing of the deal was a long and tedious legwork facilitated by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), which is the business wing of the Italian Embassy in Kenya and Tanzania.
ITA’s director Giuseppe Manenti called the event “a historic moment for farmers and professionals in Kenya.”
The deal comes just days before a mega three-day training of Kenyan farming professionals organized by the Italian Trade Agency sometime between March 10 – March 14, 2025.
Present during the signing of the MoU was President of Macfrut Renzo Piraccini, Director General of AFA Bruno Linyiru and Italian Ambassador Roberto Natali.
