Ghanaian Agric Students Complete Agrostudies Training In Israel

On Monday 2nd September 2019, a total of 1,600 students from Asia, Africa, and South America participated in a graduation ceremony after successfully completing the annual AgroStudies training in Israel. 50 Ghanaian students who formed the first batch of Ghanaians for the AgroStudies training were part of the graduates.

The AgroStudies training is a joint project organized by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture and AgroStudies of Israel. It provides a unique apprenticeship in agriculture, combining advanced studies and hands on ‘learning by doing’ in various fields.

The students spent about 12 months in Israel during which they received training from various agronomists and agricultural instructors. The training focused on fields such as irrigation, aqua culture, fruits and vegetables with on the job training in about 220 farms across Israel.

Some of the dignitaries that attended the graduation ceremony included Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Japhet Ngailonga Hasunga and the Minister of Water of Togo, Hon. Tchede Issa Bouraïma Kanfitine participated in the closing ceremony.

During the ceremony, Mr. Andy Tsatsu Kwawukume, a Ghanaian graduate was selected to speak on behalf of all the graduates. He was thankful to the Israeli government and all partners for their involved in the project which seeks to build the capacity of the students and prepare them for the challenges ahead.

On Tuesday 3rd September 2019, the Embassy of Israel in Accra and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture held a farewell reception for 70 students who will be participating in the next session of the AgroStudies training in Israel.

Interacting with the participants at the reception, H. E. Shani Cooper, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana expressed her delight about the cooperation between the Israeli and Ghanaian governments on the AgroStudies project and encouraged the participants to represent Ghana very well as the Embassy looks forward to their return to be leaders in the agricultural sector in Ghana.

On his part, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Tree Crops, Mr George Oduro, reiterated the need for the participants to return to Ghana after their successful completion of the training. He also charged them to be of a good behavior and give off their best during the training to acquire more skills that will benefit the agricultural sector in Ghana upon their return.

By Chris Koney