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Israel agriculture:Role model for India?

Israel agriculture sector’s high level of development is due to the close cooperation and interaction between scientists, extension advisers, farmers, and agriculture-related industries. These four elements have joined together to promote advanced technologies in all agricultural branches. The result is modern agriculture in a country, half of which is defined as desert.

Despite the decrease in the number of farmers and agriculture’s share in the GDP,agriculture plays a significant role as a major food supplier to the local market and is an important factor in Israeli export. Total agricultural produce in 2002 accounted for1.7% of the GDP. Some 62,000 people were directly employed in agriculture in2002. This number represents 2.4% of the country’s total labor force. The average monthly income per agricultural employee was $1,530 in 2002

Export Agricultural export (fresh and processed)for 2002 reached $1.050 billion, 4.1% of the country’s total export. Exported fresh produce amounted to $620 million, mainly to the European Union, while exported processed food products totaled $430million.A total of $1.32 billion of agricultural inputs were exported in 2001. This high figure represents the results of developing advanced agricultural technology, which has promoted the industry of sophisticated industrial inputs. Hands-on experience in local agriculture serves as a laboratory for development and production of new input technologies.

Climate and Topography
More than half of the country is characterized by an arid and semi-arid climate, and a large part of Israel is hilly. A narrow coastal strip and several inland valleys represent most of the fertile areas, where water supplied from aquifers and the Sea of Galilee make irrigation possible. Israel’s total land area is approximately 21,000 km2, of which only4,100 km2 – about 20% – are arable.Israel’s climate, together with extensive greenhouse production, enables production of vegetables, fruit and flowers during the winter off-season, especially for export to European markets. The water constraints and varied climate have stimulated the development of unique agro-technologies, based on high quality standards according to updated international production and food-safety regulations.

Value of Fresh Produce (2002)

Branch Millions of US $

Crop Production
Field crops 214
Vegetables, potatoes and melons 677
Flowers and ornamental plants 260
Citrus 161
Other fruit 513
Miscellaneous 114
Animal ProductionPoultry 594
Beef and dairy cattle 450
Sheep and goats 85
Aquaculture 94
Other animals 71
Total 3,233

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics

In the early 1950s, one full-time agricultural employee supplied food for 17 people. In 2002, one full-time employee supplied food for 90 people.

Forms of Settlement : Much of Israel’s agriculture is based on cooperative settlements, which were developed in the early 20th century. The kibbutz is a large collective production unit. Kibbutz members jointly own the means of production and share social, cultural, and economic activities. At present, most of the kibbutz income comes from industrial enterprises owned by the collective unit. Another type of settlement is the moshav,which is based on individual family farms yet organized as a cooperative society.

The residents in both types of settlements are provided with a package of municipal services. A third type of settlement is the moshava, which is a village of private farmers. The kibbutz and the moshav currently account for 83% of the country’s agricultural produce. In addition to the Jewish agricultural sector, Arab villages are located in Israel’s rural areas. These villages focus mainly on production of small livestock (sheep and goats),vegetables, field crops and olives.

Floriculture
Flowers and ornamental plants account for8.0% of Israel’s total agricultural production, and 31.2% of the country’s total fresh agricultural export. In 2002, Israel produced1.2 billion flowers on an area of 2,750hectares, 78% of which are destined for export throughout the year, mainly to Europe. Israel’s flower sector is relatively small by international standards, but it is profitable. The average flower farm is about1.8 hectares.

The farmers’ expertise, combined with support from and collaboration with research institutions and extension services, contribute to the high quality and wide variety of flowers, which number over one hundred. Although the number of flower growers isconstantly decreasing, production has remained stable due to technological advances and an intensive production system.Varieties of Cut Flowers and Acclimatization of New Varieties Dozens of flower varieties are grown in Israel, including roses, ornamental plants,Gypsophila, wax flowers, Solidago,Limonium, lisianthus (Eustoma),gerbera, Hypericum, and Anemone.

In the past, traditional varieties (such as rose, gerbera and carnation) accounted for about 80% of total flower production. Today, these varieties account for less than 40% of total flower production. The rapid research and development period for new cut-flower varieties, until they become commercial, is due to the joint efforts of floriculture extension workers, the Flower Board, the Growers’ Association, researchers, and the growers themselves.

New varieties include acclimatized”summer flowers” from Europe, which are picked and exported mainly during Europe’swinter season; various acclimatized flowers indigenous to the Southern Hemisphere;development of local varieties and acclimatized native wild flowers that have commercial potential.The new varieties have been developed to suit the changing demands of the world market, from fragrant, colorful and fruit-bearing branches to flowers that are considered environment friendly. Israeli flower growers have also joined, a project sponsored by the Netherlands to promote environment friendly flower production.

Export of Fresh Agricultural Produce (2002)

Branch Millions of US $

Field crops 63
Vegetables, potatoes and melons 153
Flowers and ornamental plants 186
Citrus 58
Other fruit 87
Seeds and seedlings 56
Aquaculture 7
Livestock and livestock products 10
Total 620

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics
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Export of Processed Agricultural Produce (2002)

Branch Millions of US $

Meat and fish products 38
Fruit and vegetable products 146
Other 246
Total 430

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics
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Export of Agricultural Inputs (2001)

Branch Millions of US $

Fertilizers 649
Pesticides and herbicides 38
Irrigation equipment 89
Seeds, seedlings and propagation
Material 61
Plastics 38
Equipment and machinery 56
Livestock feed and supplements 43
Other, incl. livestock and know-how 346
Total 1,320

Source: Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute

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Vegetables
According to data for2002, the vegetable growing sector in Israel accounts for about21% of total agricultural production in the country and about 35% of total horticultural production. The value of the vegetable sector is estimated to be about $672 million. Production stood at 1.7 million tons, which are intended for consumption in the domestic market, export of fresh produce to Europe and the USA, and industrial processing and canning.

The increase in production and the uninterrupted supply of vegetable crops were made possible due to the exploitation of a number of factors in the production process, including:
* Production in different regions
* Production in protected conditions
* Exploitation of regional climatic conditions and production in different seasons Introduction of new crops and new varieties.

Production in protected conditions has expanded in recent years and now covers about 4,000 hectares, in which a wide variety of vegetables are grown. The main vegetables are table tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, green herbs, spring-and winter-sown watermelons and melons, leafy vegetables intended for the Orthodox religious market, and eggplants and strawberries. The latter two are grown in smaller quantities than the other vegetables mentioned.
* Production in greenhouses, walk-in tunnels, and net houses enables the following: Protection of the plants from natural disasters
* Ability to produce in different climatic and regional conditions
* Significant increase in yields and improvement in quality
* Reduction of plant pests which transfer viral diseases and cause direct damage to the plants

Significant reduction in the use of pesticides About 45,000 hectares of vegetables are grown in open fields. These vegetables have been adapted to the climatic conditions in Israel and may be grown in various regions, according to the growing seasons and the climatic conditions present there. This group includes potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, summer-sown melons and watermelons, and vegetables destined for industrial processing, such as tomatoes, corn, peas, and cucumbers for pickling.

Production for export is a main source of income for Israel’s vegetable growers, especially in the Arava in the southern part of the country, which is known for its unique climatic conditions in the winter months. These conditions enable production of high-quality vegetables for export, such as peppers, melons, vine ripe tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Other regions noted for vegetable production are the Beit Shean Valley and the Jordan Rift – where fresh herbs for export are grown – and the Sharon and western Negev, which excel in the export of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and strawberries.

Fruit
Fruit orchards cover an area of about 36,000hectares; not including citrus groves. Produce reached 688,000 tons of fruit in2002 and amounted to a production value of $513 million. Fruit accounts for 16%of total agricultural production and 14%of total fresh agricultural exports. Israel exported 74,000 tons of fruit in 2002, of which 49,000 tons were avocado, 6,000tons were table grapes, 4,000 were mango, and 6,000 tons were persimmon. The varied climate lends itself to a wide variety of fruit crops.

In hilly and mountainous areas, for example, deciduous fruit trees, which have chilling requirements, are grown, while in the coastal plain or valleys, tropical and subtropical fruit trees can be grown. In the arid Arava zone, dates are grown successfully. Due to the varied climate and the advanced technologies forgrowing fruit trees under protected conditions(greenhouses and net houses)during the cold season, fruit can also be picked out of season, thereby prolonging the marketing period and improving fruit quality.

Citrus
Citrus accounts for 5% of Israel’s total agricultural produce. In 2002, about530,000 tons of fruit were produced on a productive area of 17,000 hectares. Citrus accounted for 12.5% of all fresh export in 2001.In recent years, the citrus sector in Israel has been undergoing changes as it introduces new agro technologies to facilitate improved operations, including the planting of new citrus groves in arid and semi-arid regions.

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