ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: Kenya has sought import of latest agriculture machinery from Pakistan to make its barren land cultivable.

The demand was made by a 14-member high-level Kenyan delegation, led by its minister for agriculture and livestock, Kipruto Arap Kirwa, that met the Pakistani federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock, Sikandar Hayat Bosan, here on Tuesday.

Both the sides discussed matters relating to promotion of agriculture and trade.

The Kenyan minister informed Mr Bosan that his country wanted to take benefit from the Pakistani expertise in agricultural research to promote production of wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane and high breed seeds in Kenya.

He said Kenya would strongly welcome Pakistani businessmen interested in taking on various ventures in the agriculture sector in Kenya.

Mr Bosan assured Pakistan’s full support and said the Kenyan farmers could be imparted training in agricultural universities and institutions of Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan was interested in adopting Kenyan know-how for further improvement of tea production in Pakistan.

Mr Boasn also discussed the issue of the high import duty the Kenyan government levy on the import of basmati rice from Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan wanted Kenya to relax duty on import of Pakistani basmati rice to enhance trade between the two countries.

Trade could only be improved between the two countries if they made some bilateral arrangements and relaxations, he added.

The delegation also visited the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) where they were briefed by the PARC chairman, M E Tusneem, about the functions and role of the council in the development of country’s agricultural sector.