Israel envoy visits Nueva Ecija agri projects
The envoy made rounds with farmers, executive officials of local government units, and the private sector.
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss recently paid a visit to the agricultural projects of the country in the province of Nueva Ecija.
Fluss said that the visit aims to coordinate with the farmers and the community to determine what is needed to further improve the agriculture productivity of the country and reach food security.
The envoy made rounds with farmers, executive officials of local government units, and the private sector and personally inspect the agricultural projects the two countries collaborated.
The Israeli Ambassador also inspected the techno demo sites of the Philippine-Israel Smart Agriculture Extension and Training Services, particularly the Automated Drip Irrigation in High Value Crops at the Central Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz, the KALASAG Multi-Purpose Cooperative in the town of San Jose, and Gines’ Farm in the town of Llanera.
These are also included in the 10 sets of Automated Drip Irrigation that was given by the government of Israel thru the efforts of the Israel’s Center for International Development Cooperation, University Extension Center of CLSU and the Shalom Club of Nueva Ecija-Philippines.
The said technology is used for the water and fertilizer management of farmlands using cellphones via a mobile application that makes the watering and fertilizing of plants automated.
CLSU vice president for Research and Extension Armando Espino Jr. cited that the project started in 2006 with the help of the Israeli government to the Novo Ecijano farmers when the Philippine-Israel Center for Agricultural Training Project in CLSU was established.
Under the program, many farmers, local government officials and university trained in Israel to learn of farming technologies particularly in the vegetable production using post-harvest technologies.
Also part of the collaboration with the Israeli government is the Israel Internship Program and the PhilSmart Project that has helped these agricultural stakeholders in Nueva Ecija.