Found inspiration for entrepreneurship in Israel

Dong Viet Huan, a Thai Nguyen native, came to Israel in 2014 to participate in an 11-month agricultural internship program. The high-tech agriculture practices in Israel changed his thinking about farming.

In the agricultural internship program, Huan learned, visited, and experienced production activities in indoor net houses and greenhouses. He studied smart drip irrigation systems and monitoring of the growth and development of plants.

Not only did he receive instruction from top agriculture professors in Israel, but he also directly participated in the production processes of farms using advanced technology for growing clean vegetables and fruit.

"My initial impression when I set foot in Israel was the vast desert landscapes, sand, and wind. In a harsh climate not favorable for agriculture, the people of Israel have applied advanced scientific and technological advancements to make their deserts bloom. The more I explored and experienced agricultural technologies here, the more enthusiastic and determined I became to apply the knowledge I had accumulated to practical agricultural production in my homeland," shared Dong Viet Huan.

In May 2015, after completing the course in Israel, Huan returned to his hometown and bravely transformed his family's garden, planting various fruit trees and implementing Israel's smart irrigation system. Applying this technology helped Huan reduce input costs and produce high-quality fruits such as guavas, pomelos, and jackfruits.

The drip irrigation system at the Agro-Forestry University (Thai Nguyen University)

Currently, Huan has established a stable source of income for himself with a combined agroforestry model (cultivating fruit trees and medicinal plants alongside raising poultry and fish), generating hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong in profit each year. Additionally, he guides neighboring households in economic development to escape poverty.

Studying in Israel, Hoang Dinh Lap, also in Thai Nguyen, received training at the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training, with top agriculture professors from Israel. The young man in his twenties also participated in most of the production activities on a local farm. From there, Lap acquired valuable experience and techniques in agricultural production, as well as research on drip irrigation systems and crop protection methods.

"The knowledge provided in the program was extremely valuable; it helped me change my direction and make bold decisions in my career development. Instead of holding a university degree and seeking a stable job, I was determined to start my own agricultural production business. The knowledge accumulated while learning and working in Israel also saved me time and effort in building and developing agricultural models locally," Lap stated.

Dong Viet Huan and Hoang Dinh Lap are among many students who have brought Israeli knowledge and business practices back to Vietnam, creating their own successful agricultural development models. The agricultural internship program is one of the prominent and important activities in Vietnam conducted by MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 11-month training program is designed for university students majoring in agriculture, combining advanced teaching and learning by doing. This program has accepted thousands of Vietnamese candidates, making Vietnam the leading partner and the country with the largest number of students participating in the program.

Diverse MASHAV cooperation, and tech-sharing activities

Since 1993, over 1,000 Vietnamese experts and officials have participated in courses organized by MASHAV in Israel. Fields of study include agriculture, rural and urban development, education and community development, climate change, health, innovation and entrepreneurship, gender equality, water management, and more.

Additionally, every year, MASHAV organizes online workshops and training courses in various fields, conducted by leading Israeli experts in different locations in Vietnam. A notable aspect of MASHAV's long-term involvement in Vietnam is the establishment of the Dairy Demonstration and Experimental Farm (DDEF) in 2013.

Equipment, technology, and experts sponsored by MASHAV, with a total investment of over USD 1 million from Israel, serve as a demonstration and training model for dairy farmers and industries involved in technology transfer in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

MASHAV donated a circulation water filtration system to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry in 2022. Greenhouse and drip irrigation systems, a world-revolutionary agricultural invention of Israel, were donated to Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry in 2020. Both are used as practical learning tools for local students and farmers in the region. Groundwater management is the primary focus as Israeli and British expertise and innovation of water management are applied in Mekong Delta through their British-Israel Investment Group operation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, MASHAV organized online seminars and training courses on education, agriculture, water management, psychology, healthcare, and many other fields. MASHAV provided relief by donating one ton of rice to the Rice ATM program in Hanoi during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and 100 million VND worth of food to the people of My Duc District, Hanoi, to support families facing difficulties during the pandemic.

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