Fourth Decade of Agrometeorology Study in Israel

For the answers to these and other questions we went to Jacob Lomas, formerSenior Deputy-Director of Israel's Meteorological Service at Bet Dagan who directed the program for three decades until his retirement in 1995.

In many ways Lomas can be called "Mr. Agricultural Meteorology," whose lifetimecommitment to promoting the study and application of agricultural meteorology to helping farmers all over the world, and especially in developing countries, was formally acknowledged last year when, in February 1999, he received a certificate from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for his "outstanding services to the WMO and particularly to the WMO Commission for Agricultural Meteorology." Cited in the certificate were his many contributions, including "his numerous missions to Africa, Asia and Latin America on behalf of WMO, his outstanding long-term contribution to education and training in agricultural meteorology, including the establishment andmanagement of the Regional Meteorological Training Center (RMTC) at Bet Dagan and his 35 years of active participation in the transfer of knowledge and experience in human resources development."

"Agricultural meteorology," he explains, "is the application of climatic data and information, including weather forecasting, to agricultural planning and technology. If you know the data regarding a certain region, from this past weather history, you can also program more effectively and more efficiently for the future. You can work on the statistical probability that what happens in the past will most likely occur in the future and, thus, make it possible for your agricultural production to adjust to climatic variability and change."

"And every year we still mount our original postgraduate international training course in basic agricultural meteorology, along with three other courses. In 1999, for example, we ran a course on database management in agrometeorology, i.e., the construction of information bases, one on weather modelling and another one on hydrometeorology which included assessing and managing national water resources.

"That year we also sent experts to Kenya to give an on-the-spot course on agrometeorological information for agriculture in semi-arid regions, another team to Costa Rica for a similar course, agrometeorological information for agriculture and a third team to Turkey which gave a course on yield response to climate and management. In addition to these regional courses, there was also a national course in Uzbekistan on measuring techniques and modelling in agrometeorology." These courses are presented under the auspices of MASHAV, the Center for International Cooperation of Israel's Foreign Ministry.

"And we must not forget the workshops we run on an ad hoc basis. Last year, in November 1999, we organized an international workshop on the optimal utilization of available water resources to combat drought and desertification. The WMO assisted us in organizing the workshop, as well as in providing financial support for participants from developing countries."

Although Lomas retired from the Meteorological Service five years ago, he's still Director of the RMTC and the courses and programs it offers. Last year, for example, he visited the RMTC in Nanjing, China, on an exchange consultancy, while a representative from there visited the RMTC at Bet Dagan. The objective of these visits: to discuss and formulate plans for possible cooperation between these two active training centers.

Through the years Lomas has witnessed significant and dramatic changes in the development and growth of the program. "One, the percentage of women participating in our courses is constantly increasing, undoubtedly reflecting the growing role and importance women are playing throughout the world in all aspects of development and decision-making. In every course today, over a third of the participants are women. In 1999, for example, there were 76 men and 43 women. And in our first course given in 2000, the first year of the millennium, there were 12 men and 12 women. Two, the academic level of our trainees is constantly rising. In every course today almost 80% of the participants hold PhD or MSc degrees. To be specific, in 1999, 19 held doctoral degrees, 60 had master's degrees and 30 held bachelor of science degrees."

Another interesting change is the country of origin of the participants. "Initially," recalls Lomas, "most of our participants came from Africa. Today, the larger percentage are coming from Asia. In 1998, 31% of our trainees were from Africa, with 36% from Asia. That proportion rose dramatically in 1999, with 23% coming from Africa and 43% from Asia. And, of course, we also have representatives from Europe, many from the countries of the former Soviet Union bloc and smaller numbers from South and Central America and from the Pacific, and in recent years our neighbors from Egypt and Jordan."

Yet, without a doubt, the most impressive aspect of the entire program is the way it impacts on the lives and careers of its participants. In this, it reflects many of Israel's other programs of international development and cooperation. More than just the individuals themselves benefit. The actual number of people participating in courses and workshops in Israel and abroad is only the tip of the iceberg for they create a multiplier effect. Since today the majority of trainees are senior professionals or those with the capability of moving to positions of influence and power, they are able to transfer their skills and knowledge to subordinates and successors and to initiate and implement significant projects on a broad, comprehensive and far-reaching scale.

"In our program, however," points out Lomas, "right from the very first course we saw this multiplier effect, saw how these graduates rose very quickly to effect significant change in their countries." He displays a picture he has kept for over three decades now, a picture of the graduates of that first course. It is a wonderful memento that enables him to remember and identify each participant. Lomas keeps in touch with as many of "his" graduates as possible, eagerly following their progress and achievements. He finds it personally and professionally satisfying to see how well they have absorbed the material to which they were exposed, utilizing it, not only for their own personal advancement, but, even more important, for the benefit of their country.

Looking at the picture, reading from left to right, Lomas gives thumbnail sketches of each participant. "S. J. Soriano," he recalls, "came to us from Uruguay. He already had a degree in meteorology. Returning home, he rose quickly to become Deputy Director of his country's Meteorological Services, leaving the service to become a lecturer at the University of Montevideo, where he also received his PhD degree before retiring as Dean of the entire university. To his credit, Soriano introduced the first course in agricultural meteorology at the university, which expanded to become a full-blown Department of Environmental Sciences." Again, this is an example of how trainees hand on their knowledge to others and, by so doing, put agricultural meteorology on their map.

"Another participant," notes Lomas, "A. F. Deño, from the Dominican Republic, had a bachelor's degree when he came to us. Returning home, he climbed the ladder very fast, becoming Deputy Minister of Education within 10 years and, ultimately, Minister of Education and, then, Dean of the Technical University in Santa Cruz which basically concentrates on teaching agriculture. He, too, introduced the study of agricultural meteorology at his university." Lomas, himself, became an honorary member of the Dominican Republic's Society of Meteorology, an example of how close are the ties he has established with his trainees.

"Then," he adds, "there is Abbas Shenavar, from Iran, who, upon his return, was put in charge of his country's entire network of meteorological stations, eventually becoming the Assistant to the Director of Iran's Meteorological Service.

"Although most of the participants in this course come to us from their country's meteorological services, Antonio Tubelis from Brazil came from a university background, with a master's degree in agriculture. He was very interested in our course and the ramifications of agricultural meteorology. Returning to Brazil, he earned his PhD degree there and became the head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at his university. Tubelis," adds Lomas, "has published a number of high-quality scientific papers, but his main impact has been on the way he has been educating a new generation of meteorologists to understand and cope with Brazil's environmental issues."

Another participant, Aaron Cohen, was an Israeli who worked at the soil conservation service in Hadera, in the central part of the country. "Yes," admits Lomas, "it is very unusual to have Israelis attending our courses. In all, we may have had five or six throughout my 30 years as director. They do, however, play a significant role for they show our participants that the knowledge they are receiving is useful for all, for developed as well as for developing countries. It helps them to see the course differently, gives it a higher status in their eyes. Cohen," notes Lomas, "utilized his training to introduce an agricultural meteorological research service for the farmers of the central coastal plain of Israel which proved extremely successful." Proof of his success is seen in the steep increase in inquiries from farmers in the Regional Agrometeorological Center Cohen established upon the completion of the course.

Continuing his trip down memory lane, Lomas points to the picture of W. Desueza from the Dominican Republic. "He also came from his country's Meteorological Service and returned to work there briefly, leaving to take a master's degree in the United States. We must remember," says Lomas, "that there are only limited possibilities for employment in the field of agricultural meteorology and this situation is common to every country. The result, a 'brain drain' phenomena that works in two directions. One, some agricultural meteorologists leave a service institution, such as a meteorological service, and enter the academic world in their own country, while others leave their country permanently and go to a Western country, usually the United States or Canada."

Returning to the picture, Lomas singles out Farideh Mirbabai from Iran, the only woman in the course who came from her country's Meteorological Service and returned to become Deputy Head of the Climatological Division of Iran's Meteorological Service.

"Donat Vickers of Jamaica also came from his country's Meteorological Service," recalls Lomas, "returning to become Director of one of the divisions in the service and rising within a relatively short time to become overall Director. He left Jamaica for Geneva to take up a position with the World Meteorological Organization, where he has consistently shown a strong interest in the application of climatic data to agricultural problems, an interest that was kindled by his training in Israel.

"F. Usher of Ghana also came from his Meteorological Service, returning to Ghana where, within two years, he became the Director of his country's National Meteorological Service."

As noted, many of the participants came to the course from their country's meteorological service. "This pattern," notes Lomas, "continued for many years but, today, the percentage has changed. Now, of our annual number of 120, approximately 60 come from a meteorological service, while the other 60 come from an academic or research institute, as well as from financial institutions in the developing countries, such as banks and insurance companies. Since these financial institutions are advancing loans to the agricultural community, they are interested in assessing the profitability of the agriculture for which their loans will be used. In recent years," adds Lomas, "approximately 10% of our participants have come from these financial institutions."

As dedicated and devoted as Lomas is in promoting the education and training of agricultural meteorologists whom he regards as key players in improving agriculture throughout the world, ironically enough, he admits that he more or less "stumbled" into the field. Born in Kovno, Lithuania, his initial involvement began way back in the 1950s when he was doing a postgraduate course in agriculture in the USA at the University of California at its Davis campus. Previously he had taken a master's degree in agricultural economics in England at the Royal Agricultural College. Why agriculture? "I guess," he answers, "because I knew that, ultimately, I would settle in Israel and thought that a knowledge of agriculture would be helpful in a new country striving to develop its agricultural sector."

If, at that time, agriculture was on his mind, meteorology wasn't. "It was in California," he says, "that I literally stumbled by chance into that area. Since I needed a certain number of points to meet the quota for my work there, at the suggestion of one of my professors, I took some courses in meteorology. This kindled my interest in the field, as well as giving me an insight into the efficient application of water to agriculture."

Arriving in Israel in 1958, at age 28, Lomas looked for a job. With a letter of introduction from a friend, he applied to the Meteorological Service. "I thought I would take the job offered me only until something better turned up," he admits candidly, "but I never left. Since the Meteorological Service was just becoming interested in agricultural meteorology, it was an exciting time to be there, to be on the ground floor as it were, especially since I was given a free hand, allowed to pioneer - and this was very satisfying!"

At the Meteorological Service, it soon became apparent to Lomas that Israel had a role to play in helping the developing countries, especially those in Africa, to improve their agriculture for these were countries which were major food producers, although mainly producing for their own needs. "They had begun to realize the importance of agricultural meteorology and were beginning to send their people abroad to see what other countries were doing."

From the beginning, Lomas and the RMTC he established at Bet Dagan strove to develop agricultural meteorology in as sophisticated a fashion as possible. A specialized program was devised, one that formed the basis for all of Israel's courses, showing the participants how an agricultural meteorology service utilizes the knowledge of the atmosphere to optimize agricultural production, increase agricultural profitability and decrease the risk of crop failure. It also taught them that proper utilization of data leads to an improvement in the quantity and quality of crop and animal production. Equally important, it helps the agricultural community conserve its natural resources and protects the environment from detrimental usage.

The RMTC recruits its teaching staff from the meteorological institute, academic institutions and the agricultural research organizations. Researchers and extensionists engaged in the application of climatic data and products in both long-term agricultural and water resources planning and the application of technology are employed. A full time coordinator, Ms. Zehava Borsuk (who retired this year, replaced by Michal Alon), and the Director, Jacob Lomas, are the only full time staff members.

As Lomas looks to the future, he envisions a greater demand for agricultural meteorological services that will include provision of high-quality, real time weather data, i.e., more descriptive and more accurate agriculturally-oriented weather forecasts. This demand, he feels, will come mainly from the agricultural sector of developing countries which, more and more, are realizing the importance of using climate and weather information to improve their profitability.

Israel has been playing a major role in encouraging and meeting this demand. Without a doubt, the seeds of interest planted over 30 years ago in one course for nine participants have borne impressive fruit.