DILI, 05 september 2024 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) today conducted the signing ceremony with the 139 Timorese students to attend the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training’s (AICAT) program in Israel.
The AICAT initiative, according to MALFF Minister Marcos da Cruz, has been in place since 2015. Its goal is to send Timorese students to Israel to study cutting-edge agricultural technologies in order to improve food security.
“The AICAT program has been implemented since 2015 up to now, and today we send another 139 Timorese students to attend the program of AICAT, which aims to learn the modern technology of agriculture in the area of livestock and horticulture during 11 months in Israel,” Minister of MALFF, Marcos da Cruz, told reporters in MALLF ‘s office, Comoro Dili, on thursday.
Director of Agriculture Extension Hipolito da Costa stated that the purpose of this program is training, and as such, he advised Timorese students to make the most of their time here by learning the science and theory of contemporary agriculture so they can practice effectively in the field.
“All Timorese students will homestay with the farmers in Israel to practice their theory; therefore, the participants should take this opportunity to learn the new experiences of modern technology agriculture, which can then be implemented in Timor-Leste to increase food security in the future,” he said.
At the same place, Manuel da Silva, the Bilateral Division Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, made a plea to all AICAT students to abide by Israeli regulations in order to maintain the bilateral cooperation that has been going on since 2002.
“Asked the AICAT ‘s students to continue maintaining the discipline to obey all existing regulations implemented in Israel and asked students to collaborate with Timor-Leste’s Consul in Israel for protection,” he concluded.
The AICAT program in Israel has so far benefited 548 Timorese youth and students, and 548 of them have used their knowledge to apply contemporary agricultural technology—namely, how to raise animals and plant vegetables—in Viqueque Raitahu, Aileu, Lautem, Ermera, and other municipalities in Timor-Leste.
In the meantime, twelve universities—including the National University of Timor Loro Sa’e (UNTL), the Oriental University of Timor Loro Sae (UNITAL), the Univerdade da Paz (UNPAZ), the Institute Polytechnic of Betano (IPB), the Technical Agriculture School of Maliana, Natarbora, Fuiloro, and numerous other universities in Timor-Leste—send students to Israel.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
