As Ghana celebrates this year’s National Farmers’ Day, the Embassy of the State of Israel in Accra has reiterated its commitment to collaborate with the government of Ghana through the several programmes and projects of the government to improve agriculture in Ghana.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Embassy ahead of the 2017 National Farmers Day celebration.
Israel leads in agricultural technology – from the urban individual farmer to large industrial farms, agric technologies are used to address supply, productivity and environmental concerns. Through this, Israel has for the past 70 years learned to feed itself using drip irrigation, seed hybridization and smart cultivation techniques.
From traditional and hi-tech agriculture to green houses, irrigation, dairy farming, fish farming and alternative energy – Israel’s agric technology has it all. Israel’s agric technologies allow farmers to produce all year round hence, ensuring a full cycle of productivity in the sector.
Also, agriculture in Israel is considered a science to yield better results. The farmer pays attention to the full cycle of agricultural production. This includes land preparation, selecting the right seeds, selecting the right time to plant, engaging in irrigation processes, fertilizer application, food and vegetable cultivation as well as managing post-harvest loses. One cannot therefore pay attention to only a part of the cycle as it is often the case in Ghana.
The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana, H. E. Ami Mehl in the statement called on Ghanaian farmers and other stakeholders to pay attention to the entire agricultural process. According to him, “considering agriculture as the backbone of Ghana’s economy, Ghana and Israel should collaborate more closely and share experience and technical know-how as Israel’s pre-harvest agricultural technologies ensure that the sector maximizes yield while minimizing waste.”
Corporation between Ghana and Israel began even before the independence of Ghana and has increased over the years. Israel has partnered with the government of Ghana and other institutions to implement several Israeli agric technologies. Just this October, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afryie Akoto went on a 10-day working visit to Israel to familiarize himself with some of the Israeli agric technologies. The visit resulted in Ghana and Israel agreeing in principle to corporate to train Ghanaian graduates in greenhouse technology. On regular basis, Israeli agric experts visit Ghana for similar collaborative efforts.
“In May 2018, there will be an Agritech Fair in Israel and we look forward to hosting a big delegation from Ghana. Through Israel’s MASHAV programmes, the government of Israel has instituted several programmes for some 50 Ghanaians to benefit from a one year hands on training in advance agricultural technology,” said the Ambassador in a statement.
“The Embassy of the State of Israel would also like to wish all Ghanaian farmers and all those involved in the agricultural value chain, a Happy Farmers Day and re-emphasize Israel’s readiness to share its agric technological know-how with Ghana in the areas of agro-processing, greenhouse and irrigation development.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
