May 16, 2018 TnH Global 0

Israel bullish on Agritourism boom in the country

Government officials, Ministers and 3000 agriculturalists from India visit Agritech, 2018 in Israel

Tapping on the success story of great advancements achieved by Israel in the agricultural sector over the years, Israel Ministry of Tourism is now bullish on the growth of Agritourism in the country. Israel is hosting the 20^th edition of Agritech Israel 2018, one of the world’s most important exhibitions in the field of agricultural technologies, innovations and food processing. From May 8 to 10, the exposition is held at the Israel Trade Fairs and Convention Center in Tel Aviv and is attended by the Minister of State for Agriculture from the Government of India. Government officials, including representatives from the states of Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat are also present at Agritech Israel 2018. Moreover, around 3000 travellers belonging to industries like Dairy, Irrigation, Organic Farming, Natural Fertilizers/ Pesticides and Water Harvesting are in attendance from India.

Agritech Israel is the common platform for policy makers, directors, professors, scientists, students and research scholars to interact with participants, including CEOs, consultants, managers, economists and project managers from business and industrial sectors around the world. The 20^th edition will focus on efforts and achievements of policy makers, scientists, industries, organizations, farmers, project companies and bankers, working to overcome desert barriers, expand food sources and to push the envelope of agricultural limits. Conference attendees will share views and ideas and improve their knowledge on the advanced techniques aimed at increasing the productivity of the industries. Additionally, there are site visits planned for professionals in their respective fields too.

Agritourism is a growing trend in Israel wherein farmers, agronomists and other agricultural experts visit the country to gain knowledge and evaluate advanced agricultural developments influenced by modern technology. Israel has pioneered different concept farming techniques like Desert Wine Farming at the Negev Desert of Southern Israel. Despite harsh desert land and unfavourable conditions, the Negev Wine Route has vineyards that grow highly respectable wines owing to the state of the art drip irrigation technology to offer an unusual experience for tourists exploring the desert. In the field of Dairy Farming, Israel has successfully developed cooling methods to reduce body temperature in cows so that even in Israel’s extreme climatic conditions, the performance of Israeli Holstein Friesian cows is amongst the highest worldwide.

The Ministry of Tourism conducts seminars specifically for agritourism to support growth in this sector. Over the last two years approximately 10 groups, each consisting of 30 to 50 members, have visited Israel from all over India for agritourism. The groups include members from the agriculture industry, including farmers, who have visited greenhouses, farming settlements and industry establishments where they receive demonstrations in their respective fields of interest.

Talking about the growing Agritourism from India, Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism – India & Philippines said, “Israel has had breakthrough achievements in the field of agriculture and is poised to play a major role in supplying the world with cutting-edge agricultural solutions. By developing world’s best irrigation methods for ecological farming, Israel has much to offer the world in farming know-how. Agritourism is an effective way to tap into that know-how. Through Agritech, 2018 and other such initiatives, we are witnessing a tourism boom in the agriculture sector of Israel from India. Many professionals are opting for an average of 5 nights 6 days Israel agri-tours and we are positive that Agritourism will successfully contribute to the Indian tourist arrivals to Israel in 2018”.

Israel has been well praised for its highest reused wastewater rate in the world in addition to the technologies developed for water heating and electricity generation. The country’s progress in the field of Horticulture and innovations in Greenhouse cultivation in adverse climate conditions has been a gleaming example for countries worldwide.