ANT KATZ

The above video is about the type of skills that Israel hopes to share with SA

Israel’s smartest food and water experts will be coming to South Africa mid-year to hold conferences in Johannesburg and Cape Town to show the country how they have made deserts green and created food and water security for 10 million people on land that couldn’t feed and quench one million 60 years ago.

And altruistically, to pay for it, the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria will forego its annual Independence Day bash.

RIGHT: L’chaim: Ambassadors Lenk and Setlhapelo toast Israel – READ: Dirco’s Setlhapelo praises Israel, SA Jewry on the 2015 event

The annual garden party, a highlight on the diplomatic calendar, usually includes diplomats, senior South African government and Jewish communal leaders and is lavishly catered.

As a world leader in agricultural and water technology, Israel has for quite some time been assisting South Africa in these fields.

Unique

Several Israeli companies have even built factories here to both supply the local market and to export from here to other countries.

Israeli agri- and aqua-tech turns deserts green

The Embassy will instead use the money to bring over Israel’s top experts in water and food-security to hold free attendance conferences in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Among important stakeholders and decision-makers invited are SA Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane and members of her department.

The Israeli Ambassador is foregoing his annual garden lunch to free up cash to fund bringing the country’s top water and agri-scientists to SA to offer their expertise

Israel’s agricultural and water technology transfer forms part of an ongoing relationship with South Africa – both in the emerging and commercial farming sectors – and in both the private and public sectors.

This was so much so, that on presenting his credentials to President Jacob Zuma two years ago, the then newly-appointed Ambassador Arthur Lenk gave Zuma a bowl containing fruit and vegetables that had been grown in South Africa with Israeli aid.

Ambassador Lenk made the decision that, given the prevailing drought conditions and expected food shortages and price rises, the money for the Yom Ha’atzamaut garden day celebrations would be better used to assist South Africa in this manner.

LEFT: Israel has been forced to become a world-leader in farming efficiency to ensure food security with low water resources

These events were planned to be announced in a February 17 letter by Deputy Ambassador Michael Freeman to the Cape Times – which, unfortunately, was not printed. Also, a water conference hosted by the Mail&Guardian which was planned for earlier in the year, was cancelled.

Israel did, however, hold an agricultural expo in Cape Town in February.

“We showed (Western Cape) Premier (Helen) Zille how Israeli businesses have created jobs in the Cape, assisted South Africa in its food security, and how Israeli expertise can help the country,” said Lenk.

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