Israel- Greening Africa
Photo: Mashav
After greening the desert at home and building a worldwide reputation as desertification experts, Israeli agronomists are now exporting their knowledge to Africa. In recent years, water shortage has been one of the catalysts for famine and political instability throughout much of the continent of Africa. Now, Israeli farmers working in Africa are trying to share tips on improving productivity, i.e. make more crops out of less water.
During a working visit to Senegal, the Ivory Coast, and Gabon, Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simhon met with farmers and government officials, offering assistance and know how.
“In Israel we have managed to double our output over the last decade and in the process use 30 percent less water. Today we bring the expertise and knowledge to Africa in order to help the farmers here develop,” Simhon told Reuters.
Mashav low cost irrigation system
One of these projects is the “African Garden,” a small scale water system that was developed for agricultural projects ranging from a couple of square feet to a couple of thousand. The system, comprised of a reservoir and drip irrigation system, can extend the growing season for crops from 5 months to crops that can be grown year round. Systems implemented in Nigeria have shown that after a couple of months, the system pays for itself and allows the farmer to expand operations.
Leave a reply