Twelve hundred students from across Africa and Asia descended on Jerusalem's International Convention Center on Sunday to mark their completion of a unique agriculture training program. The students, who hail from countries like Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, all acquired degrees in agriculture before taking part in the AgroStudies apprenticeship program. According to the program's website, the apprenticeship "focuses on agriculture capacity building in developing countries. We promote food security by empowering students through a creative, dynamic, multicultural program that involves both academic studies" and hands-on learning. According to AgroStudies CEO Yaron Tamir, the aim of the program, now in its 13th year, is to "transfer the theoretical knowledge that students learn to modern applied agriculture," so that graduates can go on to become successful farmers in countries where local residents depend on agriculture for their existence. Ambassador Gil Haskel, who heads MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, noted that 3,500 people come to Israel to take part in the apprenticeship each year. According to Haskel, the AgroStudies program, considered a central pillar of Israel's international aid efforts, is "of the utmost importance" in that it "strengthens ties between those countries [that participate in the program] and Israel." Sunday's graduation ceremony is significant in that it is the largest gathering of agronomists in the world. Rhoda, 24, from Uganda, told Israel Hayom at the ceremony that "the technology I learned here will impact my entire life," She said she hopes that "one day, Uganda will have half the agricultural technology of Israel." Martha, 23, also from Uganda, said her experience in Israel had been "life-changing." Rachel, from the Philippines, said, "In my country, Israel is praised." The 23-year-old said, "I learned a lot and developed my skills here." She said she intends to start growing fruit when she gets home.
