Department of Foreign Affairs
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09 November 2004 – Philippine Ambassador to Nairobi Rosalinda V. Tirona reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that an eleven-member top-level delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development  of Kenya is scheduled visit the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite from 15 to 20 November 2004 to undertake a study program on rural reconstruction.

“The study program is part of the Kenyan National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) designed to implement the National Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) that has been in place for the last four years,” Ambassador Tirona explained. The NALEP is implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development with funding from the SIDA, the international assistance agency of the government of Sweden.  “At this stage, the policy and national strategy for agricultural extension in Kenya is being reviewed,” Ambassador Tirona said.  Extension managers involved in the current review have indicated the need to observe or visit programmes from other countries and the experiences they have gained, as in the case of the Philippines, according to Ambassador Tirona.

Ambassador Tirona also pointed out that the participants are top-level managers of extension services who are involved in reviewing the current policy and strategy of the agricultural extension services of Kenya. The study program aims to equip the participants with practical applications of agricultural research and extension and to learn from the experience of the Philippines in order to carry out the task of improving NALEP policy and strategy.

The visit  of the eleven Kenyan officials provides a unique opportunity to initiate and further develop possibilities of commercial relations in the agricultural sector according to Ambassador Tirona.    Earlier, the DFA - Office of the Undersecretary for International and Economic Relations and the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi recommended that  commercial exchanges with Kenya be explored in terms of research and agribusiness,

Mr. Arne Eriksson, Program Adviser of NALEP and SIDA representative with 23 years experience in Kenya will accompany the Kenyan officials.  Ambassador Tirona also explained that the study program will include visits to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the User’s Perspectives with Agricultural Research and Development (UPWARD) in Los Baños, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department of Agriculture, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija,  the Benguet State University and the Regional Office of the Department of Agriculture in Baguio City.   The group will fly to Thailand and other rice producing countries in Asia after their program study tour in the Philippines, Ambassador Tirona said.  END