Kenya can draw valuable lessons from the Netherlands’ Flevoland Province in transforming agriculture through technology, food processing, renewable energy and long-term planning, Kenyan Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Halima Mucheke has said.
Mucheke said a visit to the province had demonstrated how vision, innovation and sustained investment could transform a region and create an ecosystem linking agriculture, research, manufacturing and technology.
The ambassador, who visited Flevoland at the invitation of the King’s Commissioner, said the experience presented opportunities for Kenya to strengthen partnerships in smart agriculture, food storage, agro-processing, renewable energy, research and technology transfer.
“We have valuable lessons and opportunities here — particularly in smart agriculture, food storage, agro-processing, renewable energy, research, technology transfer and value addition,” Mucheke said.
The delegation visited companies involved in smart technology, food storage, innovation and food-processing machinery, including VEGNIEK, OMNIVENT, ANDELA and BORNCUT.
It also engaged players in the potato sector involved in research, production and modern farm management, providing insights into how technology and innovation can improve agricultural productivity and value addition.
Mucheke said the visit also showcased the use of wind energy, drones, smart mobility and other technology-driven solutions, as well as Almere’s growing ecosystem connecting research, manufacturing, talent and industrialisation.
Flevoland, the Netherlands’ youngest province, was created through land reclamation and developed through deliberate long-term planning.
The province’s first residents arrived in 1976 as homesteaders from different backgrounds, united by a common purpose despite their differences.
What began as a major land-reclamation project has evolved into a regional economy built around agriculture, technology, renewable energy, research, manufacturing and innovation.
Mucheke said travelling by bus and boat through Oostvaardersplassen and Nieuw Land National Park offered a firsthand view of the region’s transformation, including its approach to nature, water management, land reclamation and regional development.
She said the experience demonstrated the scale of what can be achieved when governments and communities maintain a shared vision and invest in it over the long term.
For Kenya, she said, the experience could help identify areas where Dutch expertise, technology and investment can be linked to local agricultural and industrial priorities.
The ambassador said partnerships could particularly benefit Kenya’s efforts to move from raw agricultural production towards storage, processing and value addition while expanding the use of technology in farming.
“The experience reinforced one important lesson: when ambition is shared, differences can become strengths, and partnerships can turn vision into reality,” Mucheke said.
Be the First to Comment