Personal

Date of Birth: June 19th, 1955

Place of Birth: Zefat, Israel

Family Status: Married, 2 children

E-mail: davidc@migal.org.il

Address: P.O. Box 345 Zefat, Israel 13251

Telephones: Residence: 972-6-6970420, Work: 972-6-6927750, Cellphone: 972-51-513417

Fax: Residence: 972-6-6925692, Work: 972-6-6927734

Languages: Hebrew, English, Tunisian, Kiswahili, French

Fields of Specialization: Horticulture Crops, Irrigation of Crops, Farm Management, Designing and Operating Agriculture Research & commercial systems, Computerization of Data Collection: Data Processing and analyzing. Research Oriented Statistics, Data presentation.

Education

1989 Ph.D. (Agr.), Specialization: Computerized modeling of Agricultural systems Hebrew University of Jerusalem

1982 M.Sc. (Agr.), Specialization: Horticulture Crops Hebrew University of Jerusalem

1980 B.Sc. (Agr.), Specialization: Horticulture Crops Hebrew University of Jerusalem

1973 Matriculation Tests. General High School, Israel
 

Experience

1996-Present Consultant for Special Projects at the Zefat Regional College, Israel & Project consultant to the Northern Agriculture R&D Master Plan, Israel .

1994-1996 Project Consultant, Department of Agriculture, Republic of Philippines.

1990-1994 Chief Agricultural Advisor to National Youth Service of Kenya.

1992 Mission to Seychelles on Agricultural Training.

1991 Member of feasibility study for Horticulture projects in Kenya.

1984-1989 Research worker in the Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) in Israel.

1984 Head of Department of Agricultural Studies at Tel-Hai College in Israel and lecturer in Statistics and Biochemistry.

1983 Regional Advisor of field crops & vegetables for industrial processing to 20 cooperative villages, covering some 1000 hectares, in Israel.

1981-1982 Teaching assistant in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

1980 Six month in Denmark as part of a students exchange program.

Experience

1996 - Present: Starting late 1996 I have started a new job as a consultant for special and new programs in the Zefat Regional College. My TOR include the development and implementation of new study programs such as engineering school, academic program with a Regional Hospital and new academic program in computer science.

1994-1996: Project Consultant, Department of Agriculture, Philippines: In August 1994, I was appointed as a Project Consultant in the Department of Agriculture (DA), Republic of the Philippines, on behalf of the Israeli Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Division for International Cooperation.
  I was consulting a project called Key Commercial Crop Development Program (KCCDP), which envisioned the increase of the income generating capacity of traditionally crop areas. The program encouraged the production of cash and commercial crops geared towards exploiting the opportunities in the local and export market, and providing more value added to the Philippines economy.
  As a Consultant, I was assisting the Department of Agriculture by providing technical assistance to the different offices and units involved in the KCCDP to ensure effective implementation of the program.
  My specific tasks included the following:
  1. Assist the DA in the implementation of KCCDP by providing technical assistance to the program implementers specifically on the introduction of new technologies for high value crops (cutflowers, fruits, and mainly horticulture crops), farm mechanization and modern, pressurized irrigation systems.

2. Assist the program implementers by giving technical advice on market development and market matching.

3. Assist the DA in planning and implementing training activities for KCCDP.

4. Assist the program implementers in developing information materials and packaging technologies for dissemination to the target beneficiaries of the program.

5. Cooperates with relevant DA national/regional research stations for technology generation and promotion purposes.

Chief Agricultural Advisor to National Youth Service of Kenya (1990-1994): At the above period I served as Chief Agricultural Advisor to the National Youth Service (NYS) of Kenya on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My job included participating in the planning of annual farm and livestock projects of the NYS. I produced and submitted annual budgetary proposals of farm and livestock projects. I controlled the allocation of funds to the units meant for farm and livestock activities.

On the side of crop production, I visited the farms to advise on improved crop husbandry methods and practices. These visits also helped to identify each farm's potential. Later, I advised on the application of fertilizers, chemicals, seeds, & cuttings in order to step up production.

I coordinated and arranged for the teaching of many international courses on various agricultural topics. I also participated as a lecturer as well. I have also sent many officers to be trained abroad. I have identified each farm officer's training needs in agricultural skills and knowledge improvement in order to enhance productivity. Later, I evaluated their job performance and gagged skills improvement.

Mission to Seychelles on Agricultural Training (December 1992): While in Kenya in December, 1992, I was sent on a mission to the Republic of Seychelles on behalf of the Israeli Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Division for International Cooperation. The aim of the mission was to survey the agricultural training needs in order to assist the local agricultural production system. The survey included the Ministry of Agriculture's operation as well as that of the private sector.

Feasibility Study for Horticulture Projects in Kenya (Sep-Oct, 1991): While in Kenya in October, 1991, I was sent on a mission together with two other experts to conduct a feasibility study for the National Youth Service of Kenya on behalf of the Israeli Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Division for International Cooperation. The aim of the mission was to plan and suggest the establishment of a modern and advanced horticulture farm on 300 acres using the best available technology. This farm was to serve as a demonstration farm for the other farms of the NYS. The feasibility study included aspects of water engineering and irrigation, agriculture, and economy.

 Research Worker in the Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) in a Range Management Research Station. (1984-1989): Duties included in-field collection of information and computerized manipulation of said information. During the course of the research, I was placed in charge of large groups of workers, both in a supervisory role and as an administrator. In 1986, ARO paid for my Ph.D. work in "Modeling and Simulating Range Management Systems" at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

The field work for the Ph.D. was done at the same research station and included aspects of designing and operating agricultural research systems in range management as well as computerizing data collecting, data processing, analyzing research oriented statistics and data presentation.

Head of Department of Agricultural Studies at a Tel-Hai college and lecturer of Statistics and Biochemistry. (1984): For almost a year I was the head of the Department of Agricultural Studies in Tel-Hai college in Israel at diploma level. The job included administrational skills as well as academic ones in curriculum development and teachers inspection. At the same time I lectured in Biochemistry and Statistics.

Regional Advisor on Field Crops and Vegetables for IndustriProcessing (1983): Duties included management of a large area of small villages, apr. 1000+ hectares. This included advising said settlements to plan their future production starting at ground zero, i.e. preparation of soil on through harvest. Because the aim of the project was to produce for export, the work took on a higher than normal level of supervision. The main products were sweet corn, beans, and dwarf carrots. All of which were meant for industrial processing.

Teaching Assistant in The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (1981-1982): Duties included teaching first degree students and supervising their work in the laboratory as well as checking and analyzing homework assignments given to the students. This job was undertaken to finance my second degree studies. At the same time I gained valuable experience in both lecturing and lab techniques.

Six month in Denmark as part of an exchange program, for General Agriculture Duties. (1980): Between my first and second degrees, I spent six month living on a private farm in Denmark. The duties included many different jobs, but mainly practical jobs as tractor operator (ploughing, harrowing, planting ect.). Among other things, I learned about cereal crops under cold weather husbandry.  

List of publications

1. Cohen D. (1982). Water relation of cultivated tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) and two other related wild species (Solanum pennellii Corr., Lycopersicum cheesmanii Riley.). M.Sc. Thesis submitted to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
 

2. Holzer Z., M. Gutman, D. Cohen, H. Chluch (1984). The effect of Ralgro on growth rate of cattle calves. Yediot Habokrim 51:17-18.
 

3. Silanikov N., R. W. Benjamin, Z. Holzer, D. Cohen, M. Gutman (1986).The nutrition value of wheat straw and poultry litter as a supplementary food for beef cattle and the influence of straw consumption on the consumption of poultry litter. Yediot Habokrim 55:22-24.

4. Holzer Z., Gutman, M. Rozen, D. Cohen, N. S. Seligman, D. Levi (1986). The influence of mother age, calf sex and the season on the milk production of beef cattle and on their calves. Yediot Habokrim 62: 14- 16.
 

5. Silanikov N., Z. Holzer, D. Cohen, R. Benjamin, M. Gutman, A. Meltzer (1987). Interrelationship between metabolism of tritiated water, sodium and dry matter intake by beef cattle consuming wheat straw and poultry litter in free choice. Comp. Boichem. Physiol. 88:113-118.
 

6. Gutman M., D. Cohen (1987). Portable computer for managing of beef cattle herd. Hasadeh 67:2455-2456.
 

7. Cohen D., Noy-Meir I. (1991). Hand-held radiometer for estimating range land plant biomass.
 

8. Cohen. D. (1991). The influence of early season grazing deferment on the production of herbaceous pasture. Ph.D. Thesis Submitted to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
 

9. Cohen D., F. Manipon, R. T. Donato, B.M. Legaspi, R. G. A. Sardido (1995). Introduction of new onion varieties under pressurized irrigation in the Philippines. Bulletin of Plant industry.

10. Cohen D., R. G. A. Sardido, D. Reyes (1995). Cultural practice improvements in growing onion in the Philippines. Bulletin of Plant industry.
 

11. Bongato E. P., J. G. Calibo, D. Cohen (1995). Field performance of few cabbage varieties under drip and surface irrigation. Bulletin of Plant industry.
 

12. Cohen D., F. Manipon, R.G. Pintuan, R.T. Donato, M.N. Suyat (1996). Introduction of Eggplants Under Drip Irrigation in Laguna, Philippines. Annual Bulletin of the Bureau of Plant Industry 1996.

13. Cohen D., F. Manipon, R.G. Pintuan, R.T. Donato, M.N. Suyat (1996). Introduction of Bitter Gourd Under Drip Irrigation System in Laguna, Philippines. Annual Bulletin of the Bureau of Plant Industry 1996.