An Assessment of the Agricultural Relations Between Israel and Kenya: Case Study of the Galana Kulalu Irrigation Scheme.
Abstract
Generally, this study is about the agricultural relations between Kenya and Israel, using
the Galana Kulalu Irrigation Scheme as a case study. Consequently, it examined the growth and
development of the bilateral relations between Kenya and Israel in various fields before discussing
the status, challenges, opportunities and prospects of the Galana Kulalu Irrigation Scheme that is
being undertaken with the help of the Israelis to help curb the hunger menace in the country. At
the end, several recommendations were made to make the fight against food insecurity more
effective. The study also set out two hypotheses namely that the problems of hunger and food
insecurity in Kenya are as a result of poor planning by the responsible bodies and organizations,
and secondly that there is a positive correlation between the strengthening of Kenya-Israel ties and
boosting food security in Kenya. The study which depended largely on secondary data with
intermediate use of tables and diagrams including thematic approach to present the information
was situated within the complex interdependence conceptual framework.
The study found out that the causes of hunger in Kenya include conflicts, climate change,
over-reliance on rain fed agriculture, and the ever growing population that makes it difficult for
the government and other agencies to provide decent living standards for all Kenyans. In the recent
years, food insecurity has mainly been attributed to climatic factors that are beyond human control
like global warming, which has seen the country experience rains during seasons that are expected
to be dry, and no rain at all during the seasons that are expected to be rainy. However, there are
also man-made factors that make food security difficult to achieve like misappropriation of funds
meant for relief food or food security projects. The study found out that in the past there has been
lack of technical know-how of modern irrigation techniques to ease the hunger menace, hence
making the dream of a food secure Kenya a more elusive one. The impacts of food insecurity are
several. They include; Children in food insecure areas, and where the school feeding programme
is absent, are usually forced to drop out of school. Under-nutrition among infants also affects
negatively their cognitive capabilities as well as their immune systems.
Lastly, the study has given recommendations to boost food security in Kenya. They include;
That the government should expand its strategic food reserve from storing only maize, as has been
the case over the years. Although the study acknowledges the government's move to add rice to
its food reserve, it further suggests inclusion of other food products to include milk, pulses, fish
and meat products. Secondly, the irrigation potential in the country should be explored especially
by putting the areas along the Tana, Athi, Yatta, Nyando and Nzoia basins under irrigation.
Thirdly, the study comes up with two areas for further academic research; Seeing that the project
is in its initial stages, there should be further research in its subsequent phases, and also that since
Israel and Kenya are viable economic partners, especially after President Uhuru's launch of direct
flights from Nairobi to Tel Aviv, further research could be done on the economic aspect of Kenya-
Israel relations.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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