Israel's "Drip" Irrigation Technology - Reclaiming World's Deserts - 110 Nations Shown How!

It is called "de-desert-ification" by environmentalists,and pesticides.
and Israel leads the world in countering the creepingIsraeli company Netafim, which markets the
desert-ification that has made large swaths of Africatechnology, says it is now used in more than 110
and Asia uninhabitable. Satellite photographs showcountries around the world, and has helped create
that only two countries in the world have increasedself-sustaining agricultural communities in
the area of land covered by forest and agriculture -drought-stricken areas, particularly in Africa. Israel also
the United States and Israel. It was Israeli farmersleads in waste-water recovery, recycling 70 per cent
who revolutionized the watering of agricultural cropsof its waste water - a huge amount, far and away
through the drip-irrigation system that they inventedgreater than any other country. The water is used
more than 40 years ago, since adopted worldwide.for agriculture, waste management and for fish
Water is carried directly to the roots of the plantfarms in the desert.
through tiny holes in small tubes that can be easilyIsrael also leads the world in developing and exporting
redeployed when needed elsewhere. The system isgreen technologies that are beneficial to the planet.
set on a timer, which reduces evaporation andWith its main water sources controlled by avowed
eliminates wasteful run-off. Because the water isenemies (Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon), and with its
delivered directly to the roots of the crop, there aretiny country generally sandy and infertile, Israel has
added benefits: there is less moisture on the leavesbecome a world leader in terms of green technology
and surrounding soil which suppresses mold andbecause of its long experience with water scarcity.
weeds; there is also a reduced need for chemicals