The country’s success story could inspire Cameroon which strives to move to second-generation agriculture.

No era has showed more emphasis on agriculture in Cameroon as the past eleven months during which the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya has, from the Ebolowa Agro-pastoral show, presidential election campaign speeches and the November 3 inaugural speech, spoken on the immense potential of agriculture as the forerunner of Cameroon’s economic performance. While policy is streamlined to enable the country get a new green revolution, an inspiring example could come from Israel where agriculture is a booming industry.

Israel’s agro-success is even more paradoxical since it has a population of over seven million people living on land, half of which is desert and water is a serious problem. Social unrest is rife, given that the country entertains not-so-good relations with neighbours.

At first, the country’s agriculture was mainly hinged on Jafa oranges which it grew in large quantities, both for home consumption and export. Today, Israel is reputed for vegetable, flower and dairy production. In fact, the country is like a paradise for vegetarians. Visit their food markets in towns like Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth and you will marvel at the quantity and quality of fresh vegetables, of all sorts.

Even on the table at each meal, vegetable and fruits take centre stage. Given the undulating topography of the country, farmers usually go to the Jordan Valley where they grow vegetables all-year-round. This is consumed in the country as well as exported, especially to Europe. Processing of these fruits is also on the increase as most, if not all shops have processing machines that serve customers with fresh fruit juice. Official statistics show that the country has a record in dairy production. Average per cow daily milk production stands at 40 litres. The quantity of milk and vegetable on the table as well as the number of sales points for flowers attest to the strength of the country in these sectors.

The Secret

Conscious of its geographical location (in a desert and surrounded by enemies), Israel went out for an all-comforting technology, capable of righting its natural wrongs. The country is dry, yes, but its irrigation scheme is capable of supporting any kind of agriculture. Diverse sources this reporter contacted in the country spoke of different water sources. These among others include, existing potable water reservoirs like lakes and streams, marginal water like saline water and treated sewage effluents, as well as improved irrigation practices and technology like the optimal supply of plant needs, drip irrigation and leak prevention. The drip irrigation system, they said, supplies water to each plant to the roots. Statistics show that the country recycles about 70 per cent of its waste water and sewage for use on daily basis. “Drip irrigation is the secret behind our agricultural success. Not only has it helped us to produce more than we can consume, but it has also improved our trade balance,” Daniel Seaman, a senior official in the Israeli government told Cameroon Tribune. The growth in agriculture, coupled with strides in wine production, diamond, technology and security, cannot be undermined in the country’s Gross Domestic Product which today stands at 30,000 US dollars.

Secondly, the country is endowed with high level technological schools and research centres. These are the likes of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, including the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, the National Center for Mariculture, Regional Research and Development. According to Anna Andrachnik, an Israeli, “If you’ve got no natural resources, no water, 60 per cent of your territory is desert and you’re surrounded by enemies, you’ve got only to develop your intellect to move forward.” Which technology the country is exporting to the rest of the world through training and capacity building workshops within and without the country.