Israeli technology eyed to boost farm productivity

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has sought to tap the expertise of Filipino graduates from the International Center for Agricultural Studies of Israel in order to help raise the productivity and efficiency of local farms.

The country’s biggest business organization said it wanted to pool the 2,000 Filipino alumni who completed a one-year internship at the Israel Center and help them network with the local agriculture stakeholders. This was meant to allow them to apply their knowledge in animal and horticultural sciences with growers and livestock producers.

“Applying their knowledge in farming high-value produce would translate to higher productivity. They would also augment farmers’ incomes,” said PCCI president George T. Barcelon.

Barcelon pointed out that Israel was a major exporter of fruits and vegetables even through deserts accounted for more than half of Israel’s land mass.

“We should apply Israel’s scientific techniques to effectively farm even on dry land and limited water resources. This would help propel our country and to become a major exporter of farm produce,” Barcelon noted.

Barcelon met last week with Yaron Tamir, CEO of the Israel Center; Hadas Nissan, deputy head of mission of the Israel embassy, and Inbal Shoval, COO of the center.

Every year since 2011, the Israeli Center has been host to about 500 Filipino agriculture students from 29 colleges and universities to undergo hands-on training and theoretical studies in Israel farms.