Agricultural Cooperation Between Israel and Egypt

In his address Abou-Hadab recalled that the cooperation between Egypt and Israel in agriculture began a long time ago, "even before the signing of the Camp David Agreement. That was when Ariel Sharon, then Israel's Minister of Agriculture, presented us with a gift of apple tree seedlings of the Anna variety. The seedlings were planted in Egypt on an experimental basis - the first time we'd had such seedlings." Today, 30,000 feddans of Anna Apple are under cultivation in Egypt. (A feddan equals four dunams or one acre.)

"Official contacts between the Ministries of Agriculture in Egypt and Israel only began, however," continued Abou-Hadab, "in January 1982. We began with the idea of establishing a solid relationship based first on the exchange of agricultural information, serving the agricultural sectors in both countries, and second on the use of modern technology in systems of irrigation, seed production and the cultivation of new fruit and vegetable varieties."

This story of over 15 years of agricultural cooperation is one of sharing knowledge and experience, not the mere transfer of information. It demonstrates how adversary nations can be helped to heal the differences when they work together on projects of mutual benefit. "And it is this working together," stressed Abou-Hadab, talking with Shalom's reporter after the Symposium, "that is so important. Take, for example, the way we developed a chicken that has no feathers on its neck, thus making it possible for it to endure the hot climate which exists in both Egypt and Israel. A professor in Cairo studied the economic behaviour of the poultry branch and got very good results, while our scientific friends in Israel did genetic testing. We call this 'tying-in': we in Egypt solve one segment of a problem while our counterparts in Israel solve another. It's like a jigsaw puzzle. We each work on a different section and, then, fit or tie our results together." It should be noted that this exchange of genetic material has attracted great interest abroad, even as far away as Asia.

"We're also doing some thing similar in cotton research," added Abou-Hadab, "where biological pest control is being studied both in Egypt and Israel. Each country is studying different aspects of the problem for we don't want to repeat ourselves."

At the Symposium, Abou-Hadab reviewed the channels of communication developed between the two countries. "First, there was the establishment of an experimental farm in the district of Al-Gemiza Village, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate - the first time we'd had such a farm. Then, within the framework of strengthening our newly-established relations, a coordinating committee concerned with agriculture was formed, headed by representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture of both Egypt and Israel, along with a large group of experts from both countries, specialists in various fields of agriculture - fruit and vegetable crops, modern systems of irrigation and water use, animal production, agro-industry, upgrading of information and training. It was agreed that this committee would meet every six months, alternatingly in Cairo and Tel Aviv.

"In 1985, the Nubaseed farm, another experimental farm, but on a larger scale, was established in the new lands of the West Delta district of Nubareia. Initially this model farm covered a small area of 50 feddans: today it is almost 500 feddans in size. And it was here, in an area of 10 feddans, that for the first time we began to cultivate cantaloupe melons under plastic tunnels, a system which enabled us to realize high profits. Today, the area covered by plastic tunnels exceeds 25,000 feddans."

Abou-Hadab told of the preliminary experiments with apples, early and late varieties of peaches, as well as with apricots and nectarines, made at Nubaseed. Proved to be profitable, these crops are now also cultivated in other parts of Egypt. "We have now been able to expand quite impressively the variety of fruits and vegetables we can grow. If, for example, before cooperation, we only had one variety of peach, today we have seven."

In addition to the farm at Nubaseed, a Scientific Applied Research Farm at Maryut in the Western desert of Egypt was set up under the Middle East Regional Cooperation Program sponsored by USAID (US Agency for International Development) to serve the settlers in the New Lands set aside for development. At this site, a number of crops - peaches, nectarines, apples, olives, grapes and guava - were tested to see if they could be grown under desert conditions. Open-field vegetables were also cultivated in order to extend the region's production season into autumn and winter. Much attention was paid to vegetables grown under low plastic tunnels, enabling them to take advantage of the desert's natural environment - its high levels of solar radiation, relatively high daytime temperatures in the winter and lack of pollution. Experiments were also undertaken on ornamental plants grown in special nurseries.

"The close cooperation in agriculture developed between Egypt and Israel, along with USAID support and financing," stressed Abou-Hadab, "had an effective and clear effect on the development of cultivation systems in the New Lands. It also had an impact on our private sector. It led private farmers to ask Israeli experts for advice regarding new varieties of fruits and vegetables. They also began to import advanced irrigation systems and programs developed by Israeli companies. And today, many of the private sector farms are now able to export to European markets via Israeli marketing companies and boards."

Abraham (Buma) Goldshtein, Director of the English Courses Department of CINADCO (the Centre for International Agricultural Development Cooperation of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture), is in charge of the training program for the Egyptians. "In 1995, CINADCO, together with MASHAV (the Centre for International Cooperation of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs), offered 12 courses in Israel for Egyptian university graduates, agricultural extension staff and farm managers focusing on different aspects of animal husbandry, irrigation, planning and plant protection for crops.

"Ninety percent of our trainees are university graduates who have been allocated farms in the New Lands. According to Egyptian law, one passed many years ago to encourage university study, all graduates are guaranteed a position following completion of their studies. Within the framework of that legislation, many of these graduates are now being given land to farm in the new lands. This," explained Goldshtein, "is a salutary solution for many of Egypt's problems - from unemployment to urban overcrowding. In addition, these graduates are playing a significant role in increasing food production badly needed in a country where there are 65 million mouths to feed.

"These are highly motivated individuals," he stressed. "Although the courses are short - 20 days in all - the trainees display a remarkable ability to implement what they have learned here. On my last visit to Egypt I was astonished to see how well they had been able to put into practice the training provided by Israel. They are really fine farmers."

Upon their return to Egypt, the trainees spend an additional week in an on-the-spot course at the Maryut Training Centre where they are given more detailed information regarding their specific interests, solidifying and completing the material studied in Israel.

Training is also provided for Egyptian specialists, for those who are involved in one specific and specialized area - agronomists, leading farmers and policy makers. "The Egyptians select the candidates for these courses," explained Buma, "while Israel designs a program tailored to meet their particular needs and interests. Last year, for example, we had a group of experts from the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture's Department of New Lands and this year a group of extension specialists who came for a workshop of 10 days - to familiarize themselves with Israel's network of marketing.

"Our training program with Egypt is the largest one we have with any country. It is also the largest one Egypt has with any country. Actually, it is the largest bilateral training program of cooperation in the entire Middle East. And please note," he stressed, "that we do it together. From start to finish, the project is a joint effort by Israel and Egypt. My colleagues and partners in Egypt, with whom I meet four or five times a year, sit with us before every course, planning and pinpointing the areas to cover.

"Another key to our success is our flexibility, our ability to mount our courses according to the requirements of the trainees and their supervisors. At the first meeting of every course, for example, we ask the participants what they grow, what they want to grow and what their expectations are from the program."

It is now evident that the training programs are extremely successful. Proof is the fact that five years ago, when they began, "it was," as Buma noted, "a major problem to find candidates. Today, so many apply that we have to work according to a vigorous process of selection."

At this last meeting of the Joint Committee, Prof. Pohoryles stressed the crucial role of MASHAV. The "renewed protocol we are signing today," he said, "stresses the bilateral relationship between Israel and Egypt. Our main objective now is to keep the momentum going - and to move even further ahead. The unique modality of cooperation in the field of agriculture that we have developed can serve as a prototype for other countries in the Middle East and perhaps even as a universal model for other parts of the world."

"There is now general consensus that there won't be peace in any region without enhancing and raising the standard of living of its people," affirmed Yitzhak Abt, Director of CINADCO. "Agricultural cooperation can serve as a bridge to this peace, but only when we realize that technology alone is not the full key to peace. Another ingredient of equal or perhaps even more importance is the ongoing contact and dialogue between all concerned parties - scientists, farmers and policy makers."

"Yes," agreed Abou-Hadab, "with over 15 years of cooperation and contact behind us, we have shown that a basis for sharing and solving mutual problems can be established. But remember," he added sagely, "peace looks like agriculture. You have to plant seeds and then have the patience to wait for them to sprout."