Egerton University will send 40 students to Israel to study advanced agriculture and water technology to gain expertise that will help address food insecurity in the country.

The University’s Vice-chancellor Prof Isaac Kibwage said the students would travel to Israel for an intensive training programme for 11 months in different state-of-the-art universities and colleges in Israel while studying at modern basic farms.

According to Prof Kibwage, the students would also be trained in various branches of agriculture such as animal husbandry, crop production and aquaculture under the agricultural programme dubbed Arava International Centre for Agriculture Training (AICAT).

Once they graduate, the VC said, the graduates would be expected to come up with agricultural project proposals to be implemented in Nakuru and neighbouring counties.

“We are optimistic that they will use the technological skills gained to make a difference in our country,” said Prof Kibwage. The students, 28 men and 12 women will be studying at AICAT Campus, located in Mercaz Sapir, a region in close proximity to 15 surrounding agricultural communities which Prof Kibwage said boasts an array of farms and homesteads.

In early 2016, the governments of Kenya and Israel signed an agreement dubbed “The Jerusalem Declaration” or the “Declaration on Collaboration in Water and Irrigation” that would see fresh graduates from institutions of higher learning attend an 11-month practical training course in Israel.

Speaking when he and AICAT Director Mrs Hanni Arnon signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the two institutions, the Vice Chancellor indicated that the students would further undergo intensive training in crop production, use of hybrid seeds and efficient water use, water resources, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse, and irrigation with emphasis on advanced efficient water use technologies.