ISRAEL TRADE ATTACHE SHARES AGRI TECHNOLOGY
Israel shares technology on organic agriculture and water conservation in a recent roundtable discussion at a hotel in Mandaue City, Cebu.
According to Doron Hemo, head of the Israeli Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines, Israel shares the technology to the Philippines to help the country in its preparation against adverse climatic conditions as well as concerns on scarcity of water and energy.
Doron added that before Israel fully developed its agriculture sector, the country was described by Mark Twain, a writer in the 1800’s, as a desolate, rocky and unproductive area, but now Israel is far from what the writer described as it now has rich vegetation.
He said that Israel wanted to help the region increase its agriculture production through the technologies that are found to be efficient.
Based on data, the agriculture sector is an important economic player in the region,generating employment worth around P3M.With looming El Nino which might affect the watersupply, there is a compelling factor to adopt efficient technologies within the sector.
Part of Israel's initiative to reach out to other countries is creating short and long term courses, involvement in global development projects and initiating joint research and development programs, Hemo said.
Hemo added that Israel leads in organic technology with a renowned track record on excellent production. Among Israel's best known products are oranges, apples, pomegranates, olive and almonds among others.
According to Director Angel Enriquez of the Department of Agriculture (RFO 7), the region is interested in sending young trainees to Israel to help acquire knowledge on organic agriculture.
Director Angel Enriquez of the DA RFO 7 meets head of Israel’s economic trade mission, Doron Hemo.
Based on farmers' experience in the Philippines, organically-grown crops are found to have longer shelf-life, and healthier than the synthetically -grown ones-- an advantage in marketing.
Among the technologies already adopted in the Philippines are, treating sewage effluents for fertilizers, use of drip irrigation in farms, and rain enhancement or cloud seeding. (Anna Delza S. Barimbao)