The deputy secretary of Rural Development of the Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food Secretary (Sagarpa), Mely Romero Celis, said that Mexico strengthens agri-food actions to increase productive capacity and generate more food to ensure food security.
This is achieved through knowledge of good practices and experiences from countries such as Israel that currently produces 95 percent of their food, the official said during a visit to that nation, the Sagarpa said in a statement.
Romero Celis said that Israel, with whom Mexico has maintained a bilateral and cooperative relationship for 65 years, has developed practices in the agricultural sector of innovation, technology and cooperation among rural communities that have achieved prosperity, inclusion and sustainability in the field.
“It is impressive to know that this nation has managed to position itself as an agri-food power and to be a reference in matters of good use and use of soil and water, in a territory that is deserted in 70 percent,” she said.
She added that it is technology and innovation, but also the organization and linkage that exists between government, producers and research centers which has led them to be an example in good agricultural practices.
The purpose of the visit to Israel is to acquire knowledge and put into practice what the Israelis have developed to include women in agricultural practices and the involvement of the family in the development of agriculture.
It will also analyze the support that the extensionists carry out with the rural families obtaining good results of profitability and sustainability in what they produce; the organization that is achieved among producers to encourage the adoption of technological innovations focused on agri-food and agroindustrial chains.
She said that she will share the experience and achievements of Mexico, through Sagarpa, in community development, extension, rooting of young people in the countryside, assuring natural disasters, infrastructure works for conservation, use and sustainable management of water and soil .
Also, the process of empowering women in the rural sector through El Campo in Our Hands, as well as the achievements in irrigation technification and market diversification.
Romero Celis said, “We will share with our friends of Israel the experience we have as a 12th food producer, that we are a surplus, and that we export more than 29 thousand million dollars of food to the world.”
She announced that among the activities carried out by the Mexican delegation, is the visit to various moshav and kibbutz in Galilee, to know their organization; meeting with producers of goats, bananas, avocado and dehydrated fruit.
Likewise, she visited a agro-park and the Center for Demonstration and Training of water systems; in addition to holding a meeting with leaders of agricultural cooperatives, managers of research centers and extensionists.
