On October 25, 1995, a Lithuanian Airlines plane landed at Tel Aviv
airport, to be met by 30 degrees of heat and a smiling representative
of Kibbutz Shefayim. Our studies at the Center for International
Agricultural Development Cooperation (CINADCO) of the Israeli Ministry
of Agriculture began with an introduction to the work carried out at
Kibbutz Shefayim, its inhabitants and participants on international
courses. People with different languages and diverse national cultures
gathered at CINADCO's study center at Kibbutz Shefayim to study and
work together.
The International Course on Vegetable Production comprised 29
participants from Mongolia and the republics of the former USSR,
and was given in Russian. The course lasted 29 days. During that time
course participants were introduced to the agricultural system of
Israel, its achievements in growing vegetables, attended lectures by
professionals on raising and irrigating vegetables in greenhouses,
plant protection, the economics of vegetable raising, how to measure
water and energy resources for more effective usage. Participants
frequently went on excursions, met with vegetable growers, visited
factories manufacturing traditional equipment for vegetable
cultivation, were introduced to the work of the experimental station at
Kibbutz Yotvata and met Israeli scientists and regional inspectors. At
meetings with specialists the subjects under discussion included
production, marketing, seed growing, and the problems of growing
vegetables in the countries from which the participants came. In
addition, meetings were arranged with senior CINADCO staffers,
representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other
distinguished Israelis. They told the participants about Israel's
development, history, international standing and desire for peaceful
cooperation with other countries.
We were introduced to new technologies and ways of growing and
irrigating vegetables under greenhouse conditions. We were interested
in the technology of seedling growth introduced by the firm "Hishtil"
and the system of drip irrigation for greenhouses developed by the
firm "Netafim." Such technologies are more affordable, being cheaper
than those being manufactured in Europe.
What we learned became synthesized in our final projects. Four of us
from Lithuania presented a project entitled "Growing seedlings and
vegetables in greenhouse conditions in the Vilnius economy." We
presented data concerning the development of the vegetable economy for
the six years following Lithuanian independence. Reforms did a great
deal of harm to Lithuanian agriculture. Vegetable production under
greenhouse conditions suffered especially badly. Greenhouse production
fell into the hands of people with no professional knowledge of it.
Much greenhouse production and especially the Vilnius greenhouse
complex were ruined. New measures were undertaken by the government to
restore production, and scientists looked for more efficient ways of
rebuilding greenhouses with minimal cost.
Finally, we presented our recommendations for using the most up to date
Israeli technology for ways to restore greenhouse production in the
Vilnius complex.
The second part of the course was an introduction to the country.
Excursions were arranged to the north and south of Israel. It is
difficult to describe using mere words the emotions that gripped our
souls as we walked the noisy streets of holy Jerusalem, were told of
its past, visited historic monasteries and museums. We were overwhelmed
by the incredible diversity of the natural environment and how many
different cultures there were within the comparatively small territory
of Israel. We were enraptured by the grandeur of Masada, the enigma of
the Dead Sea, the beautiful buildings of Eilat, its underwater
observatory and aquarium. We were full of admiration for the
hardworking people of Israel, which in the comparatively short span
since the establishment of the state performed a miracle in creating
green fields, orchards, flowers everywhere, where once there had been
desert.
People's friendliness created the greatest impression on us during our
stay. Smiles and goodwill greeted us everywhere. Israeli specialists
shared their knowledge and experience with us, gave us picturesque
brochures and posters filled with information, gave us advice regarding
problems that interested us, discussed the art and culture of different
peoples.
We will remember with love and affection the director of CINADCO Yitzhak
Abt, his deputy, Zvi Herman, Leah Farkash, Ana Jurist and Boris Levitas
for the goodwill and heartfelt kindness with which they surrounded us
during our stay in Israel. We proffer our respect to Sh. Shilon, A.
Sadan, O. Zeidan, R. Moldavsky and other lecturers, who spared no
effort in transmitting to us their knowledge concerning the raising of
vegetables in Israel. We will long remember all those people who
concerned themselves with our welfare and fed us. We ate with great
interest those wonderful vegetable dishes of Jewish culinary art and
came away with many recipes.
I now apply in practice the knowledge gained. I teach undergraduate and
MA students attending agronomy, forestry and engineering faculties at
the Lithuanian Agricultural University where I teach vegetable growing.
I frequently lecture to younger colleagues, who teach at higher
agricultural institutes, am consulted by farmers concerning the
introduction of new technologies in open and greenhouse vegetable
growing, range and choice, seedling growth and etc. Lithuanian
agricultural scientists and specialists are convinced that there is
much to be learned from their Israeli colleagues and would like to work
in cooperation with them.
Associate Professor Dr. Ludmilla Kmitiene
Department of Housekeeping & Horticulture
Lithuanian University of Agriculture LT-4324
Kaunas-Akademija
LITHUANIA