Israel to share agricultural know-how with struggling African farmers
Agriculture Minister Simhon visits Africa to help countries facing food shortages due to lack of rain.
By Reuters Tags: Israel agriculture Israel newsIsrael is getting ready to share technology and skills with African countries struggling to sustain agricultural output due to increasingly unreliable rains, said Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon.
Simhon said sharing know-how, especially in irrigation and water management, was his focus on a tour of Senegal, Ivory Coast and Gabon.
His trip comes as some 10 million people in West and Central Africa face food shortages due to failed rains.
"We are not arriving here in Africa to take resources from the African countries. We are coming here in order to give know-how and abilities to these countries to develop," Simhon told Reuters in Senegal over the weekend.
"Israel is the only country in the world that has been able to conquer the desert. More than 50 percent of our exports are coming from semi-arid areas. This is our strength - this we would like to bring here."
Simhon said Israel could help Senegal reduce dependence on imports, which currently account for around 80 percent of food needs. "Senegal's traditional agriculture is one crop a year. We know how to do three and four crops a year. We can teach that."
The minister would not give any figures on proposed Israeli aid to African farming or detail the role of Israeli companies in such programs. Senegal already hosts several Israeli-funded projects looking at using low-pressure drip irrigation to increase productivity.
Israeli farmers have been heavily involved in modern developments in irrigation, including drip irrigation systems and water recycling methods.
Some experts believe these techniques could become invaluable in Africa's arid growing regions, which risk becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
"One of the most important things is the water technology and usage. The world is drying up. There is less water, there is less rain days," Simhon said.
"In Israel we are using recycled water, desalinated water, rain water, salty water, which almost anywhere in the world we will not have any use for (but) we (use to) make the sweetest tomatoes," he added.
Simhon said advances in technology had allowed Israeli farmers to use 30 percent less water while almost doubling output over the last decade, leaving the country with a 150 percent food surplus.
"We have over-production in Israel. It would have been very easy for us just to load the boat or the airplane ... but we think we can do it differently," he said.
"We are coming with the knowledge, the expertise, with the willingness to share it with other countries," he added, saying it was up to African nations to establish their priorities and seek assistance that was available.
The United Nations chief of humanitarian operations, John Holmes, is currently in West Africa, seeking to draw attention to the food emergency. The UN called for more efforts to tackle the root causes of the recurring crises.
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By its occupations and its oppression and subjugation of the Palestinians. It never ceases to amaze how it foregoes the potential for improving relations next door, while beating its chest over things like this. Sorry but - when you're destroying the orchards and farms of your neighbors; things like this don't really stand out.
What occupation? Number of Israeli troops in Gaza: 0 Number of Arab communities in the West Bank under Israeli control: 0 Number of times the PA has said no to Israeli offers to withdraw further: I lost count!
This is really nothing new. Israel has been aiding many of the poorer nations in Africa for years, introducing such innovations as drip irrigation. However, I fully expect the Israel-haters and fascists to try to turn this around and make it part of their anti-Israel propaganda. Remember how offended they were when Israeli Jews went to help the blacks of Haiti? They will be just as offended when Israeli Jews go help the blacks of Africa.
I would be greatly surprised.
that Israelis can teach Africans. They can also teach them how to avoid being swallowed up by aggressive hegemony-driven Muslims.
Arnold, everything Israel has and has accomplished came in the form of American welfare, know-how, technology and raw materials. I admire your pride, but it's grossly misleading. Consider the simple fact that more than 60 years after the UN created Israel, they STILL can't secure a loan with the US co-signing for it. Israel is really nothing but the worlds largest welfare state.
This is another step in the right direction for Israel together with increased involvement in Latin America. Africa and Latin America are full of countries that have shared economic and cultural interests with Israel, and friendship can be developed.
**It is a shame that Israel has neglected Africa for so long. Africa must be No. 1 priority for Israel. It is at least as strategic as Europe and once borders are open, Israel will be a gateway for Africa.** --- You accepted Libya's kaddafi money several years ago. YOU HAVE THEREFORE PAID A VERY HEAVY PRICE. Next time, ask yourself, which religion still practices slavery in Eastern Africa? When you find out, call me @ 1 800 44-terry and then we will be able to talk.
...track **This is an excellent positive step, which needs to be universallized and the concept internalized in Israeli society. A new national orientation is required, a switching of the train to a new track which does not end in the train wreck of OCCUPATION. End the OCCUPATION. Enjoy the fruits of righteousness. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, as written by the prophet Isaiah.** --- BEFORE ivar the moron and his estonia, there was ISrael. DURING ivar the moron and his estonia, there is Israel. AFTER ivar the moron and his estonia, there will be Israel. Israel IS REAL. ivar and estonia are pure FICTIONS!
How many olive trees grow in Africa.
Occupation, occupation, occupation. This is a terrible mantra heard over and over again. Did occupation teach Israel how to make rocky desert bloom. Did occupation teach Israel Israel the kibbutz movement, did occupation teach the people to educate themselves in medicine, sciences, business administration, computer technology...etc. etc. etc. Israel has been on the right track since 1947. BEFORE OCCUPATION. Do you not think it is about time to tell the arab world to get onto the right track.
FINALLY the Africans are getting concrete instruction on how to help themselves! I am very, VERY glad to learn this, for Africa is close to my heart. The Africans are smart people and fast learners.
By its occupations and its oppression and subjugation of the Palestinians. It never ceases to amaze how it foregoes the potential for improving relations next door, while beating its chest over things like this. Sorry but - when you're destroying the orchards and farms of your neighbors; things like this don't really stand out.
This is an excellent positive step, which needs to be universallized and the concept internalized in Israeli society. A new national orientation is required, a switching of the train to a new track which does not end in the train wreck of OCCUPATION. End the OCCUPATION. Enjoy the fruits of righteousness. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, as written by the prophet Isaiah.
Or you'll find that the land they've transformed won't be easily returned. Israel could do well to use such tactics by sharing with its neighbours.
The Israeli Greenwashing carries on: Now it is "Israel helping struggling farmers in Africa."
it works for Israel.
In the early 1960's, the Bahamas became internally independent from Britain. The first country to offer and to give technical assistance was Israel. This aid covered agricultural projects, Governmental operating structures, and some security programs. It was given over the objection of the British and was partially clandestine.The Bahamas still remembers!
conquered the desert ( made the desert bloom) but at what expense?? Stealing water from Lebanon , from Syria and the West Bank. By squandering the West Bak Aquifer resources for greedy settlers and Israeli beach showers... While persons in the West Bank are denied water supplies for months on end . Irsaeli per capita use of water is scandoulous compared to the Palestinain per capota use.. Go ahed , make the Isarel , m ake the desert bloom , while creating an ecological disaster in the West Bank( most springs are producing saline water), by denying Palestinians acces to their water resources and by shipping out precious palestinain water to Europe in your hot house tomatos....
The continent could have benefited greatly from better ties with Israel as it did years ago.
Isarel will engage in any country.....
try to boycott this action, maybe Saudi A. can reach out obviously these African nations arn't muslim enough to refuse inteligent aid.
By its occupations and its oppression and subjugation of the Palestinians. It never ceases to amaze how it foregoes the potential for improving relations next door, while beating its chest over things like this. Sorry but - when you're destroying the orchards and farms of your neighbors; things like this don't really stand out.
It is a shame that Israel has neglected Africa for so long. Africa must be No. 1 priority for Israel. It is at least as strategic as Europe and once borders are open, Israel will be a gateway for Africa.