The first farmers' market in Kenya's capital Nairobi was inaugurated today. The 'Nairobi Farmer's Market' is an initiative financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Maeci) within the framework of the Mediterranean and African Markets Initiative (Mami) managed by Coldiretti's Campagna Amica foundation and implemented by Ciheam Bari, in collaboration with the World farmers markets coalition, with the assistance of the Italian Embassy in Kenya.
The event was held in the Rosslyn Square shopping centre, which will host the market every week, bringing together around 45 farmers and producers from the rural areas around Nairobi, and already on the first day there was a good turnout of citizens.
Present at the ceremony, together with Ambassador Roberto Natali, were the Vice-President of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Leonard Yegon, the Director of the Campagna amica Foundation, Carmelo Troccoli, the President of Terranostra, Dominga Cotarella and the Vice-President of Cilheam, Biagio Di Terlizzi. The Nairobi market was designed according to the Italian Campagna amica model, and is the second in the African continent, after the one recently opened in Alexandria, Egypt.
"The first Farmer's Market in Nairobi represents a significant step towards strengthening the links between rural and urban areas of the country, promoting sustainable food and supporting local farmers and producers. It is an initiative that bridges an ancient tradition with the modern vision of 'zero kilometre', sustainability, and the reduction of steps between producer and consumer, bringing village and village markets back to the big cities," said the Italian Ambassador.
Mr Yegon thanked the Italian Foreign Ministry not only for contributing to the initiative, but for bringing a sustainable economic model in which the country's small farms play a leading role.
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