German-African Trainee Program (GATP): Alumni visit two major agricultural exhibitions in Nairobi
AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V. and Bukura Agricultural College (BAC) collaborated to facilitate the participation of alumni from the German-African Trainee Program (GATP) in the 3rd Graintech Africa Expo and the 8th Dairy Livestock and Poultry Expo Africa held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi from 15th to 17th of June 2023.
These exhibitions proved to be excellent learning platforms for the alumni, offering opportunities to explore the latest advancements in technology, equipment, farm machinery, and agricultural inputs. Moreover, the exhibitions provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing the alumni to interact with progressive farmers, agricultural dealers, distributors, importers, and government officials.
Richard See, a member of the 2022 cohort, expressed his appreciation, stating, "The interactions with progressive farmers, agricultural dealers, distributors, importers, and government officials allowed me and the entire alumni group to expand our professional networks and explore potential partnerships."
Sharleen Chelimo, a member of the 2021 cohort, highlighted the importance of these exhibitions in fostering learning, innovation, and industry connections for the alumni.
Moses Jamwa, also from the 2021 cohort, found the experience inspiring, as it showcased the impact of the trainees and the support provided by AKI. He emphasized the potential for improving farmers' income through the implementation of technology and innovative agricultural practices.
Anne Nasieku, another member of the 2021 cohort, emphasized how the exhibitions displayed the latest technology, equipment, and inputs, enabling the alumni to stay informed about industry advancements and adopt innovative practices.
Joshua Olwanda, from the 2022 cohort, described the excursion to the International Agritech KICC exhibition in Nairobi as "super wonderful" and an eye-opener to modern technologies and innovation in agriculture. He regarded it as the best way to gain comprehensive knowledge and experience.
Ngure, Davies Kamau, a senior lecturer and program coordinator from BAC, expressed sincere gratitude to AKI for organizing such an invaluable program: “the efforts made by AKI have empowered the alumni to thrive and excel in their agricultural pursuits.”
As part of the follow-up program, AKI and BAC plan to organize more physical and virtual trips within Kenya. Further updates on this project component will be shared in the future.
