On-the-spot courses, given in the participants' home countries, are an
integral part of the training activities of MASHAV (the Centre for
International Cooperation of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs). There
are both old and yet new components to these courses: They are old in the
way the principles and structure which lie behind their delivery are, by
now, well-developed, while new in the sense that each course is a
refreshing and unique experience - for both the instructors and the
participants.
An on-the-spot course in Intensive Poultry Management, given in Tanzania
in the spring of 1997 - from April 30th to May 16th to be exact - was no
exception. Presented by Yehuda Rozenblum, head of the Latin American
Department of CINADCO (Israel's Ministry of Agriculture's Centre for
International Development Cooperation), and Yehezkiel Cohen, a poultry
expert, it wasn't the first time they had led such a course. Yet, as
each time, it was exciting to see how much "we were able to help
participants increase the productivity and profitability of the poultry
they raise, how receptive they were to the new techniques of intensive
poultry management used in Israel and in other developed countries.
"Interestingly enough," adds Rozenblum, "although what we taught was known
in theory to some of the people present, none of it had ever been put into
practice. For most, however, all the material was new and fascinating."
The course, under the aegis of CINADCO and MASHAV, and sited at the JKT
RUVU National Service Farm, located 70 kilometres west of Dar-es-Salaam,
was given to 37 members of the camp's staff. The camp itself is part of
a larger program modeled after Israel's NAHAL (Agricultural Pioneering
Youth) units which combine agricultural training with military service.
The program in Tanzania is one of many in Africa set up with Israel's
assistance in the late fifties and early sixties, the period during which
many African countries received their independence. Emerging as independent
states, they faced a major problem - how to provide their largely unskilled
and untrained populace, especially their younger people, with training that
would give them skills with which to earn their living. The solution: an
agricultural training program with a military component geared to
instilling loyalty and devotion to the fledgling states, not an easy task,
especially in a country such as Tanzania which has a population of over 25
million, divided into almost 30 ethnic tribes, each with its own language,
culture and traditions.
The staff members who attended the course were all instructors in the
poultry branch of the camp. The basic aim of the course: to raise the level
of instruction. This is in line with Israel's tried and true policy of
"training the trainers," an approach that gets as much mileage as possible
from each course. By passing on to their students the new techniques and
methods involved in poultry management, the instructors create a multiplier
effect that is far more productive and meaningful than providing
instruction only to individual trainees. "By 'training the trainer,'"
summarizes Rozenblum, "we have an impact on a much larger number of
people."
The poultry farm at the RUVU National Service Camp is huge, with
approximately 25 poultry sheds that could, if properly utilized,
accommodate over 150,000 broilers and layers. Broilers are poultry raised
for their meat, while layers are poultry whose eggs are used for human
consumption. "There is a potential there," states Rozenblum, "that has yet
to be realized."
The course began with a brief history of the Israeli experience in
agriculture, especially in the early years of its statehood. The different
forms of agricultural settlements were noted, as well as the ways Israel
manages with the (small) quantity of resources - land, water and capital -
that it has at its disposal.
Rozenblum, who emigrated to Israel in 1971 from Argentina, could speak from
practical experience. Before joining MASHAV, he had lived on both a kibbutz
(a collective agricultural settlement) and a moshav (a village where
settlers have separate farmsteads, but develop them cooperatively). From
1988 to 1992 he was based in Swaziland as MASHAV's expert supervising all
of its international training activities there (see Shalom 1991-1). And
upon returning home, in 1992 he was appointed head of the Latin American
Department at CINADCO.
The professional content of the course was practical and utilitarian.
Topics included the use of new equipment such as automatic feeders and
drinkers; broiler production - what components of feed to give, when and in
what quantities; the use of new formulas in feeding; anatomy - from the
respiratory system to the blood system; the proper use of medicines and
antibiotics and the use of light to increase egg production.
"As a rule, the concepts and techniques we presented are not complicated to
implement," says Rozenblum. "Take, for example, the issue of light. Without
any help from the farmer, chickens naturally lay several dozens of eggs
a year. By gradually increasing the light in their coops to a totality
of 16 to 17 hours out of every 24-hour period, we can, as we
demonstrated, increase productivity. More eggs per chicken mean more
money. Productivity is increased even more dramatically when it is
combined with genetic crossbreeding of poultry from different parts of
the world plus proper nutrition - knowing what type and quantity of feed
to give, as well as how and when to give it."
Thus many of the techniques introduced during the course are relatively
simple to carry out, but impressive in the results they achieve. Beaking,
for example, or control cannibalism, simply means shortening the beak of
the chicken. The reason: Chickens tend to eat only large pieces of food.
Once the beak is shortened, they will consume all of the feed, and not only
just the large pieces in it. It is a simple equation: A shortened beak
means less feed is wasted.
Equally practical was the point made regarding post-mortems and the
importance of performing them first on healthy chickens in order to have a
frame of reference to gauge the depth and extent of a diseased bird. As
Rozenblum says, "You have to know what a healthy chicken looks like before
you can distinguish a diseased or unhealthy one."
Much emphasis was placed on bio security of disease control, i.e.,
prevention of disease. It was pointed out that many of the diseases seen at
the poultry farm are due to the poor quality of its water and feed. Another
culprit is the floor of the coop, with shoes being the prime carrier of
many diseases. The obvious solution: Keep to a minimum the number of people
coming into the coop.
The proper use of medicines and antibiotics was also emphasized. "We
stressed," explains Rozenblum, "the importance of giving them according to
a rigid, fixed schedule. There is no difficulty in acquiring medicines and
antibiotics which are easily available in Dar-es-Salaam. The problem is
knowing how and when to apply them. We also encouraged our students to use
the experience of the veterinarian in Dar-es-Salaam and his laboratory and
to send him specimens to see what is happening with their flocks."
As a veteran MASHAV expert who has led workshops and courses in developing
countries all over the world, Rozenblum is well able to gauge how the
course was received. He has little doubt that "we opened the minds of our
participants and broadened their horizons. And our efforts were received
with much enthusiasm, much appreciation. Actually, from the very beginning,
everything possible was done to help make the course a success."
The course received extensive coverage in the local media. "Even more
important," recalls Rozenblum, "was the presence at our opening ceremony
of Tanzania's Minister of Defense, Edgar Maokola Majogo. His prestigious
appearance reflected the importance the Government of Tanzania gave to the
course and to Israel's presence in the country. Remember, this was the
first time that we've given a course on this subject in Tanzania since the
country resumed diplomatic ties with Israel, broken off in 1973."
Equally heartwarming was the opportunity Rozenblum had of meeting
Tanzanians who had been in Israel on courses in previous years. "Many told
us," he says, "that one of the most important events in their entire
lives was their stay here in Israel. They reported they had been sorry
for the break between their country and the Israel which they had grown
to love - and happy that diplomatic relationships had been
re-established."
A former participant whom Rozenblum met, Major General Rashid Makame, is
now the JKT Chief of Staff. He'd been in Israel on a course at the
beginning of the sixties. "As soon as he saw me," says Rozenblum, "he
burst into a hearty Shalom. He told me how great an experience it had
been for him to have been in Israel, how warm and hospitable the people
had been, how thrilled he'd been by the opportunity to visit so many
important historical religious sites and how much he'd benefited from
the training."
Colonel Lameck Meena, who coordinated the on-the-spot course in Tanzania in
his capacity as Director of the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Department for the Tanzania National Service (which is under the Ministry
of Defence and National Service), was chosen to participate this November
in a course on Intensive Dairy Cattle and Sheep Production at the CINADCO
training centre at Kibbutz Shefayim. He noted, "After resumption of
diplomatic relations between our countries in 1995 it was deemed imperative
to re-explore areas for cooperation like those which existed before 1967.
These include among others transfer of technology and professional visits
and training. The 'first' team of Israeli experts who came to Tanzania in
April-May, 1997, to run the on-the-spot course in Intensive Poultry
Management, happened to be my guests in my official capacity. My bosses
and I were inspired and highly thirsty for a 'to see is to believe'
situation, which is why I am here now. I now believe what I heard for I
have seen it for myself. I am very impressed by the teaching staff, the
teaching material, the professional tours and the industry we are
studying. I know for sure that Israeli agriculture is world class and so
more and more people, professionals and politicians, from developing
countries like mine should avail themselves of the opportunity to
witness. The course is very relevant to my work. Although I am a
veterinarian by profession, currently I am working in administration of
agricultural production, livestock included. I oversee a team of field
staff located throughout the country. By imparting to them the acquired
knowledge, productivity will increase and hence profit, which is my
priority number one as administrator."
It is often said that those who work in the field of international
cooperation, who are involved in training and helping others in a variety
of ways to improve their lives, are a special breed - less materialistic
than many, more idealistic. For them their work is not a job but more of a
mission, a commitment to share their knowledge and know-how. Their reward
often comes from unexpected sources, from chance encounters, for example,
such as Yehuda Rozenblum and Yehezkiel Cohen had in Tanzania.