Modern farming: there are plenty of lessons from Israel

Editor, I think it would greatly benefit Rwanda to strengthen its ties with Israel for obvious reasons. We know how technologically advanced Israel is and this goes hand in hand with Rwanda’s vision to be a technological hub in the East African region. Secondly, we know about drop irrigation and how it has transformed modern agriculture. Basically, Israel is able to produce food in the desert while in Rwanda we still have farmers crying out famine as soon as rain is late for a few days despite the fact that Rwanda is lush and has plenty of rainfall and water. I will agree that there are things that require manpower and resources. And revamping Rwanda’s agriculture will require resources and manpower. But most importantly it requires a vision. Rwanda cannot afford to have an ignorant population anymore; it is way too costly. For instance, let’s take a look at erosion. We all know that when rain falls on steep hill, water takes the soil with it and depletes the soil of its minerals. However by making terraces when rain falls it goes in the soil and stays there and therefore replenishes the underground fresh water sources and minerals stay in the soil. However, from what I have seen, basically the Government of Rwanda is paying local villagers through the VUP programmes to make terraces and other farm related infrastructures. Why do villagers expect the government to do this for them? Aren’t they the beneficiaries of these terraces and the restoration of their own ecosystems on top of having a surplus production? I think that the word that most comes to mind is “capacity”. And I have heard that word many times now but I think that when there is a lack of capacity to leverage either cognitive resources, human resources or financial resources to move mountains as it were, then I think we are in serious trouble. We need these capacities in full abundance at all times. Sal Equin Reaction to the story, “Young graduates to acquire agric skills in Israel” (The New Times, October 16)

Opinions

Modern farming: there are plenty of lessons from Israel