Agriculture in Israel

Agriculture in Israel is a very developed industry. The country is a leader in fresh fruits, vegetables, and smart farming methods. Even though part of southern Israel is desert, special ways are used to give crops enough water. The north gets more rain, so it is easier to grow food there.

About 30% of the land in Israel is used for farming, even when water is hard to find.

Farming is an important part of Israel’s work and trade. Israel grows lots of food but still needs to buy some things like grains, meat, and sugar from other countries.

Two special kinds of farming groups help shape farming in Israel: the kibbutz and the moshav. These groups started when Jews settled the land that became Israel. They worked together to build farms in the countryside. The kibbutzim alone provide a big part of all the food made in the country.

History

The growth of farming in Israel is tied to the Zionist movement and Jewish people moving to the area in the late 1800s. By 1900, Jewish people owned about 4% of the farmland. They mostly bought land near the Mediterranean Sea, while Palestinian Arabs lived in the highlands and grew wheat and barley.

Farming near the coast needed work to drain swamps, but the soil was rich. After many Arab Palestinians left or were forced off their land around the time of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jewish people gained more farmland. Today, most of Israel’s farmland needs water because the southern part is a desert.

Israel uses smart ways to grow food with less water, and farming is important but a small part of the country’s economy. In recent years, Israel has grown more food while using less water. After an attack in 2023, many workers left farms, causing problems for farmers.

Farm types

Most farming in Israel uses ideas of sharing that began in the early 1900s. There are two special types of farming communities: the kibbutz, where everyone shares the work and resources together, and the moshav, where families have their own homes and land but work together for buying and selling. These communities help make sure everyone is treated fairly and works together. Today, kibbutzim and moshavim grow 76% of Israel's fresh food and many processed food products. The means of production are shared in these communities.

Workers

Israeli farms used to use workers from nearby areas. But in the early 1990s, this changed and farms started looking for help from other countries.

By 2021, about 75,200 people worked on farms, many from other countries.

In 2023, many workers from Thailand helped on Israeli farms. But strict rules made it hard for them to stay long. After some serious events in October 2023, many Thai workers went home, which caused problems for farmers. New workers from Sri Lanka were expected to help.

In November 2023, an arrangement was made to bring workers from Malawi to work on farms.

The farming sector has had challenges in treating foreign workers fairly. Despite laws to protect them, some workers still face unfair treatment. Efforts continue to improve conditions for all workers.

Agricultural produce

Israel can grow many crops because of its different lands and weather. Common crops include wheat, sorghum, and corn. Fruits and vegetables such as citrus, avocados, kiwifruit, guavas, mangos, and grapes are grown along the Mediterranean coastal plain. Vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini are found everywhere. In warmer areas, bananas and dates grow, while apples, pears, and cherries are grown in the hills.

Israel also raises livestock, with cows producing lots of milk. The country grows many fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, avocados, olives, cherries, and more. Israeli scientists made special tomatoes that stay fresh longer, helping farmers sell more produce.

Fishing and aquaculture

Main article: Fishing in Israel

The Mediterranean Sea provides salt-water fishing, while freshwater fishing happens on Lake Kinneret, also called the Sea of Galilee. Scientists in the Negev desert have found ways to farm fish in artificial lakes. Most fresh fish in Israel now comes from aquaculture, with fish like silver carp, grass carp, and gilthead seabream being raised on special farms.

In 2022, Israel was one of the top countries for exporting flowers, selling almost $89 million worth. Popular flowers include Chamelaucium (waxflower) and roses. Israel also grows special desert flowers and supplies traditional European flowers during winter.

Research and technology

Main article: Agricultural research in Israel

Israel is good at studying farming and creating new ideas. This work helps grow more food and better crops. Farmers have made new seeds and plants. They also found special ways to water plants, like using a mix of soil and a substance called vermiculite to help crops grow. They also use a method called drip irrigation.

The Agritech exhibition

The Agritech Exhibition happens every three years. It is a big event for showing new ideas in farming. People from all over the world come to see the latest tools and ways to grow food, especially in places with little water. In 2012, over 35,000 people visited, and more than 250 companies showed their products.

Organic farming

In Israel, organic farming is a small but important part of agriculture. Organic produce is about 1.5% of all farm products. But it is 13% of what Israel sells to other countries. Israel uses around 7,000 hectares of land for organic farming. Most of this land grows vegetables outside. Fruit orchards, vegetables in greenhouses, and herbs make up the rest.

Government regulation

Israel's government helps farms grow the right crops and stay within limits. Farms have rules on how much they can produce and how much water they can use. This helps keep prices steady. Special rules apply to milk, eggs, poultry, and potatoes.

The Ministry of Agriculture looks after farming in the country. It makes sure plants and animals are healthy, plans for future farming needs, and supports research and marketing. The government also tries to help farms save money by focusing on crops that sell well.

Disease

Scientists found a harmful plant bacteria in almond trees in the Hula Valley in northeast Israel. They used lab tests to learn more about the bacteria.

Agritourism

Agrotourism in Israel started to grow in the late 1980s when farmers needed new ways to make money. The Israel Ministry of Tourism began helping in 1993, offering support and training.

Visitors can learn about old farming at places like Ein Yael, Neot Kedumim, and Kfar Kedem. They can try activities like stomping grapes and pressing olives. The Wine Route and Olive Route let people see small wineries and old and new oil presses. The Dagon Museum in Haifa shows how people grew grain long ago and today. Binyamina is famous for its citrus groves, and Kibbutz Ein Gedi shows how to farm in the desert. Museums like the Dubrovin Farm and the Museum of Pioneer Settlement at Kibbutz Yifat tell the story of how Israel built its farms long ago.

Impact of the Gaza war on agriculture

The war near Gaza hurt farms close to the border. At Kibbutz Alumim, buildings like chicken coops and greenhouses were destroyed, and some farming tools were lost. Only one part of the business stayed safe. The farm usually grows many crops and raises animals, but after the attacks, some workers could not return right away. The army first stopped farming work but later allowed a little bit of it. The CEO said their wheat did not grow well because it was planted late and not taken care of. Some crops like carrots and cabbages could not be picked, and greenhouses full of peppers were ruined. The farm used to be a big supplier of small sweet peppers but now only has a very small operation.