Director-General QU Dongyu

Readout of the FAO Director-General’s meeting with Hon. Franklin Mithika Linturi, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Kenya

20/02/2023

Nairobi – FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, met Honorable Franklin Mithika Linturi, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Kenya, on 20 February, during an official visit to the country.

The Minister welcomed the Director-General to Kilimo House and outlined how FAO’s country team has supported his office through technical assistance, resource mobilization, capacity development, and knowledge management, having helped them recently to respond and manage the Desert Locus and the Fall Armyworm, and to implement other actions related to plant protection.

Qu congratulated the Minister for his recent appointment and said he was looking forward to working closely with his team through the different FAO technical divisions and personnel on the ground.

The Director-General lauded the country’s work on land registration and data and offered the Organization's support. He added that FAO could also support his country to set appropriate indicators for Early Warnings Systems and help them build a reliable data tool suited to the nation’s needs.

Furthermore, Qu said he was glad to hear about the work being carried out related to disease control surveillance mapping, reassuring the Ministry that the FAO-International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Center could help them to build their capacities. 

The Director-General also briefed him about his proposal for establishing a tropical/subtropical agriculture network of technical excellency among FAO and institutions from India, Brazil, the United States and China to support countries such as Kenya, given the climatic similarities and challenges they face.

“FAO is committed to supporting you to have a comprehensive investment plan that will allow you to transform your agrifood systems, create value and transform the sector”, Qu added.

 Finally, the Director-General encouraged Kenya to promote its agrotourism, which is already significant, linking it with smallholder farmers and local producers to boost local foods and products.

At Kilimo House, Qu also met with other representatives of the Ministry, including Christopher Wanga, Chairman of Kenya Veterinary Board; Collins Marangu, Director of Plant Protection; Peter Owoko, Director of Agriculture Policy Research; Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary of State Department of Livestock; and Assam Kurroh, Principal Secretary State Department of Crops & Agriculture Research. 

Echoing the Minister, they briefed the Director-General about how FAO is supporting their departments, including with assistance with a Pandemic Fund proposal, and to face the critical issue of drought for the upcoming planting season.