Punjab Farmers in Israel. Photo: MASHAV.

A 10-member delegation of dairy farmers from the Punjab region of India recently visited Israel to participate in a training program about modern dairy farming techniques. The unique program was especially designed for the group by the Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation (CINDACO), part of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Times of India reported that, in late July, the Punjab farmers visited modern dairy farms located on kibbutzim and moshavim across Israel and learned the latest dairy farming techniques from Israeli farmers. A member of the delegation, Karnail Singh, told the Times of India that weather conditions in Israel are similar to Punjab but that in Israel there are “special arrangements to control heat stress.”

Singh also pointed out the two different types of dairy farms in Israel: cooperative and family based, which employ such technology as solar systems that generate electricity for the farming functions. There are 776 family-owned farms and 163 cooperative-based farms in Israel.

According to the MASHAV website, the aim of the training program was “to showcase Israeli innovations achieved by leading Israeli companies, as well as to share advanced modern dairy technologies.”

The Punjab delegation also included veterinarians, researchers and staff from the Punjab Dairy Development Board. The Punjabi government made the request to visit Israel though MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, which brings Israel’s expertise in economic, social and environmental sustainable development to developing countries.

Mashav has trained 270,000 participants from 132 countries in various agricultural programs both in Israel and abroad.