The Embassy of the State of Israel in Accra has reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the Government of Ghana through the several programmes and projects of the government to improve agriculture in Ghana.
The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana, Ami Mehl, in a statement, said Israel leads in agricultural technology, saying 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 hybridisation, and smart cultivation techniques.
“From traditional and hi-tech agriculture to greenhouses, irrigation, dairy farming, fish farming and alternative energy, Israel’s agric technology has it all.
“Also, Israel’s agric technologies allow farmers to produce all year round, hence ensuring a full cycle of productivity in the sector,” he said.
Ami Meh explained that Israel pioneered and remains a world leader in drip irrigation, greenhouse farming and some of the most important modern technologies adopted in agriculture today.
“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, fertiliser 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. For good results in the agric sector, Ghanaian farmers must concentrate on the entire agricultural process.
“Considering agriculture as the backbone of Ghana’s economy, Ghana and Israel should collaborate more closely and share experience and technical know-how.
“Israel’s pre-harvest agricultural technologies ensure that the sector maximises yield while minimising waste,” the ambassador added.
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 Afriyie Akoto, went on a 10-day working visit to Israel to familiarise himself with some of the Israeli agric technologies.
The visit resulted in Ghana and Israel agreeing in principle to co-operate 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 looks 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.
On the occasion of the National Farmer’s Day in Ghana, Ami Meh re-emphasised Israel’s readiness to share its agric technological know-how with Ghana in the areas of agro-processing, greenhouse and irrigation development.
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