Kerala Farmers to Visit Israel for 'Exposure Tour'

Israel is set to become the first country for the farmers of Kerala to go on an 'Exposure Tour' to learn modern farming practices.

Farmers who want to travel to Israel to study the latest farming methods have been asked by the department of agriculture in Kerala to fill out online application forms to get themselves enrolled in the initiative.

The tour is being organized under the recently approved government proposal for 'National and international agricultural technology exposure tours for farmer groups'. A maximum of 20 farmers will be selected by the department for this tour.

The state department announced on Saturday that 'innovative farmers' under 50 years of age who have over ten years of experience and more than one acre of cultivated land are eligible to apply.

Starting on December 19, applications can be filed online at www.aimsnew.kerala.gov.in, while the deadline for online submission of the applications is December 29. Interested farmers are advised to pay thorough attention to the information provided on the website regarding the tour, said the department.

According to the state's agriculture department, Israel's farming industry is renowned for its use of hi-tech farming methods, recycling techniques, micro-irrigation systems, and climate-friendly farming practices. The tour would assist in introducing farmers from the state to practical methods that may be used in India as well, it added.

This comes a week after Tammy Ben Haim, the Israeli consul general in South India, made a suggestion concerning potential collaboration with the state of Kerala. She said during her conversation with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that Israel would be willing to consider working with Kerala in the tourist and agricultural sectors.

How to proceed with the sector's cooperation will be decided after a discussion with the minister of tourism. The creation of agricultural products with added value will also be explored with Israeli businesses. In February, an Israeli minister will pay a visit to the state, she noted.