Israel's agricultural production has increased twelvefold over the
past of 40 years, despite extreme climactic and physical constraints
of limited water resources and arable land. This remarkable increase
was based on sophisticated input methodologies, including
revolutionary irrigation technologies and water management practices,
as well as innovative policies for sustainable agricultural
production development.
Israel's own experience, the climactic conditions it shares with many
of the world's least developed countries and its international
reputation in the field of agriculture have prompted many developing
countries to seek partnership with Israel in addressing their own
agricultural challenges.
MASHAV's agricultural activities address the challenges of food
security and development while promoting environmentally sound
resource use. This is done through programs geared to the improvement
of agriculture practices, systems and extension and the introduction
of acclimatized new field and tree crops of economic value - many of
which have been developed in Israel's leading agricultural research
facilities. All of our agricultural programs are specifically adapted
to the unique conditions and needs of individual partner countries.
In doing so, we endeavor to provide practical solutions for partners
at all stages of development and at all levels - from subsistence
farming to market-oriented activities.
Our agriculture program is based on extensive human capacity
building, both in Israel and on-site in partner countries, and the
use of practical, cost-effective demonstration farms, managed by
resident long-term expert consultants in cooperation with local
professional counterparts. The farms focus on extension and transfer
of know-how, technologies and appropriate management practices.
In the year 2000, MASHAV was involved in 35 demonstration farm
activities and dispatched 113 short-term professional consultants and
19 long-term consultants to partner countries. In addition, MASHAV
conducted 45 training courses in Israel in five languages with
approximately 1,200 participants from over 90 countries. As well, 92
on-the-spot courses involving 3,810 participants were held. All
agricultural activities were done in cooperation with the Ministry of
Agriculture's Center for International Agricultural Development
Cooperation (CINADCO).
Recognizing the challenges facing agriculture today in a liberalized
global economy, MASHAV activities in 2000 placed emphasis on the
promotion and planning of agribusiness initiatives with priority
given to demand driven production, contract farming, satellite farm
production, processing and market systems. Such programs were
undertaken in 2000 in Central American countries affected by
Hurricane Mitch (Honduras and Nicaragua), as well as other countries,
such as China, India, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrghyzstan, Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the
Palestinian Authority.
In addition, as one of the world leaders in the field, Israel gave
extensive support to interested countries engaged in the combat of
desertification, such as transfer of cutting-edge Israeli
technologies and know-how for the efficient use of water (including
sustainable use of saline and marginal water) and the combat of soil
erosion. MASHAV also continued to look towards the introduction and
cultivation of plants tolerant to drought and desert conditions and
the active promotion of bio-diversity under arid zone climates.
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Food Security in Africa
MASHAV proposes to partner countries in Africa the following forms of cooperation to improve food security:
- Promotion of the African Market Garden Concept - using very
low-cost, very low-pressure irrigation systems in order to irrigate
single-household plots. With a judicious mix of crops, these plots
have sufficient yields to feed a family unit and provide a small
surplus for cash.
- Pre-positioning of emergency food supplies in vulnerable
sub-regions through community-managed decentralized food and basic
service centers.
- Hydroscopic cloud-seeding in vulnerable sub-regions.
- Pre-positioning idle water exploration equipment to tap into
existing groundwater resources for potable water requirements and
constructing small water impoundments to store run-off water.
- Strengthening grassroots extension delivery systems.
- Policy formation, planning and implementation of small
irrigation projects for communal gardens or to insure sustainable
minimum crop production on family holdings.
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