The Emirati group Al Dahra, specializing in large-scale agriculture, is in discussions with the Kenyan government to lease nearly 81,000 hectares of agricultural land located in an irrigation zone. The information was revealed on Wednesday, December 18 by Bloomberg, quoting Ephantus Kimotho, Principal Secretary at the Kenya Irrigation Department
“Negotiations are still ongoing, but a memorandum of understanding could be signed as early as the beginning of next year,” the official said. Although details on the duration of the lease and the types of crops to be produced remain unknown, it is clarified that this public-private partnership is part of the Galana Kulalu project, aimed at developing agricultural irrigation on more than 149 000 hectares of land in Kilifi and Tana River counties.
According to Mr. Kimotho, Al Dahra plans to invest around $800 million for the exploitation of agricultural lands in Kenya. The group, which cultivates and markets a wide variety of agricultural products, including cereals and fruits, on more than 161,000 hectares worldwide, sees this project as an opportunity to strengthen its presence in Africa. Al Dahra already operates agricultural land in three other African countries: Egypt, Morocco and Namibia.
The arrival of the Emirati group should help to develop still unexploited agricultural land and increase irrigated areas, in order to stimulate agricultural production, which remains largely dependent on rainfall.
Par The editorial staffEditorial Committee – Casablanca
Morocco
