Farmers Review Africa Sept/Oct 2018 FRA - September - October 2018 digital 5 | Page 36

FEATURE
Polish Pavilion at Farm-Tech Expo Kenya
T
housands of farmers were in
attendance in Naivasha for this
year’s inaugural Farm-Tech Expo
Kenya outdoor farming expo that took
place at the host partner KALRO’s
facilities from 12 to 14 September.
This year’s expo sought to provide a
unique outdoor and interactive buying
platform for agriculture professionals
of all scales, from live crop trials and
machinery demonstrations to practical
free-to-attend training workshops.
The expo also had free-to-attend
AgriTEACH training workshops which
were presented by industry experts
and focused on modernizing small-
scale farmers. These workshops
provided access to market information
and innovations from the latest financial
loan models to new agro solutions.
Some of the local and regional industry
organizations present included the
East African Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Agriculture (EACCIA),
Eastern Africa Farmers Federation
(EAFF), Farm Concern International,
Kenya National Farmers’ Federation
(KENAFF), Kenya Flower Council and
Town and County Planners Association of Kenya.
Also present for the first time was the
Polish Pavilion, who were present how
Poland’s agricultural sector has evolved
and transformed. Head of the Polish
Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH)
office in Nairobi Michael Mazurewicz,
speaking at the conference, said that
Poland and Kenya share a similar
story, whereby Poland underwent a
major agricultural transition period
of mechanization, optimization and
adapting new technologies to farming
sector comprising of can be categorized
as typical medium-scale farming.
He also added that Poland as a
country was once at a fairly similar
level where Kenya is now in terms
of agriculture. Taking into account
Poland’s agricultural innovativeness,
competence and experience we would
34 |September - October 2018
Michael Mazurewicz
like to share with Kenya our knowledge
and practices in order to achieve
progressive goals such as agricultural
mechanization, providing quality farm inputs
and implementing new technologies.
Build a platform for investment
Michael explained that the PAIH trade
office was recently opened in Nairobi
to build a platform for investment and
trade relations between Kenya and
Poland. He explained that they would
work to link Polish entrepreneurs and
investors with the right partners in
Kenya. Through the State Development
Bank of Poland we may also facilitate
trade finance support if requested.