www.cbn.com
Prof., Ph.D., Alexander Zabuty
Contents
1 .Introduction
2. The historical aspect
3 .Livestock
3.1 .Cattle
3.2 .Pig
3.3. Horses
Camel 3.4.
3.5 .Rabbit
3.6 .Poultry
3.7 .Fisheries (aquaculture)
3.8 .Beekeeping and bumblebees in Israel
4 .Crop
4.1. Wheat
4.2. Maize
4.3 .Barley
4.4 .Potatoes
4.5. Root crops
4.6 .Vegetables, fruits, berries and other crops
Wine 4.7.
4.8 .Floriculture
4.9 .Olives
5 .High technologies for agriculture
6. Irrigation and Water Plant
7. Sources
Introduction.
Israeli Agriculture accounts for 5% of GDP and 5.6% of exports. Agricultural workers are at the same time 3.5% of the population employed in manufacturing.
Israel provides itself with food by 95 per cent are imported with only a few grains and oilseeds, meat, coffee, cocoa and sugar, which is more than offset by the widest variety of products that the country produces for export.
The lack of arable land and limited water resources has been a major obstacle to the development of agriculture in Israel. The total area of cultivated land is about 440,000 ha, of which irrigated — 255 000 hectares. The agricultural sector consumes 60-72% water. This is due to the fact that 60% of the country to conduct agricultural activities can only be provided year-round artificial irrigation. In the end, every Israeli farmer can feed 52 people. Own agricultural production meets the needs of the country’s food products by 95%, as mentioned above. This is a great figure! A large proportion of agricultural products for export, increasing the annual volume that was achieved in particular through the universal application of the most modern farming methods.
The historical aspect .
It is believed that the first Aliyah (mass return — resettlement in Palestine) refers to the period of 1882-1903 years. Approximate number of the first immigrants from the Russian Empire (the majority), Romania and Poland, was 20-30 thousand people. Arriving in Palestine, settlers-Halutz tried to start developing barren land. These were attempts intuitive, copying a small agricultural experience available to the pioneers of the country of origin. But the empirical evidence to determine could be useful in saline sandy soils of the new Jewish Yishuv (residence).
Realizing the futility of their own individual efforts, the first settlers logically opted for unification of the social forces and formed an entirely new form agricultural cooperative moshav in which each family, which had a plot of land, producing a certain type of agricultural products, together with the other members of the cooperative, is the name of this community, to sell their products in the markets of small towns. At the time, there was no system of bulk procurement of agricultural products.
This type of production association, there moshav in Israel to this day, but now it is distinguished by two factors. In the structure of the modern moshav are large industrial farm power and end products centrally implemented middle and wholesale purchasing organizations — intermediaries between Moshav cities and markets and exporting abroad companies.
Second Aliyah in the country are the historians of Israel to 1904-1914 years of the 20th century. This period of settling the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) gave us a second form of public agricultural production — the kibbutzim, which attended the public ownership of the means and instruments of production, the farm animals and the land, the proceeds raised from the sale of their products. Soviet collective farms, collective farms as a form of agricultural production was conceived and modeled on the kibbutz, but for a variety of primarily social reasons, lasted to the present day, in modern Russia and the former republics of the USSR virtually become obsolete. Kibbutzim also alive, although their number has decreased significantly due to the exodus of rural population to the cities, as well as the reluctance of young people to socialize kibbutz financial income. The first kibbutz «Degania» established on the southern shore of Lake Kinneret, recently celebrated its centenary.
A tremendous achievement to be considered the fact that the first moshavim and kibbutzim fully cover the needs of its members in the food and sell the surplus generated in the cities and other settlements
The period of the third wave of Aliyah refers to the period of the 30’s — 50’s of the 20th century.
In the 30s began in Europe «gitlerizatsiya» and the growth of anti-Semitism that caused the activation of the resettlement of Jews in Palestine. Broke out in 1939, World War II is even more stimulated this process, and after the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948, a wave of aliyah began to rise fast. Suffice it to say that in the year proclamation of the state of the country lived 650 thousand people, and in its first year the population increased by 200-odd thousand.
Due to the rapid growth of population in the country, there was an acute shortage of food, and in 1949 introduced cards for food
Austerity measures and their limits in food consumption was completed in 1952 and, due to the intensification of food crop production and a sharp increase in the number selhozposeleny, the country was able to reach the 1955 level of total food self-sufficiency and independence from the Arab sector of agriculture, which has a population increasingly attempt to block the supply of food evreskomu country’s population. By 1955, the structure of the population of Israel has faced an unusual picture. The first waves of aliyah were almost entirely Ashkenazi, all kinds of agricultural settlements consisted of Ashkenazi Jews, that is, immigrants from Europe who need to survive in Palestine forced to return to the traditions of ancestors — agriculture and animal husbandry. During the 1949-1955 period the country had moved more than 500,000 Jews from the Maghreb countries (Mediterranean), who had no education, but were skilled tradesmen and artisans. Jews from the Middle East and North Africa fleeing uslivayuscheysya frenzied wave of Arab anti-Semitism. They began to settle in time, literally tented villages, which supplied food to kibbutzim and moshavim. Gradually experienced traders began to move in rapidly growing cities and towns and started a wholesale and retail markets. These entrepreneurs began buying products kibbutz or moshav and resell it on the urban markets. This they do, and still down from generation to generation.
Animal husbandry.
Cattle.
Breeding, maintenance and feeding of cattle in Israel is of paramount importance. Bred by long-term selection of Israeli-Holstein breed of cattle has great adaptability to the local climate but complex — to a long and hot summer.
Israel with special pride is the first in the world in milk production of their herds. For example, little Israel produces annually by thousands of 11.653 kg milk cow fodder. A particularly valuable copies given to 18 cows, 7000 kg of milk per year. At 372 kg of milk protein and 421 kg milk fat. This is an absolute record in the world statistics. Such splendid performance could not be achieved if Israel was not conducted a thorough long-term breeding work with the herd. Under the herd should be taken into account to understand all cows and bulls in the country, and especially their number, which is entered into a computer stud book (database).
This work deals with a complex tribal Israeli breeders association (ICBA) and the Dairy Council. Registered in the stud book are 115,000 cows from 972 farms (farms). In addition to cows, in this database contains information on 25,000 bulls. This is Israel’s breeding herd of cattle. Each animal was assigned a number for life, which is stored in an electronic database, as scientists track the long-term productivity of valuable offspring producers years after the termination of the production operation of their parents. In Gross Israel produces 1.217 billion kg of milk per year. Dairy products account for 9% of the total volume of all variety of agricultural products. This strong economic performance. Each year, specialists zooengineers singled out a group of the top 50 sires, of which 5 goals are entered into a permanent core breeding herd consists of 20 of the best bulls. This group of 20 goals is the sperm donor, which reseed 350 most productive cows in the country. In Israel, for over 30 years, there is a sperm bank bulls. Sperm bank — it is a separate organization that earns funds from the sale of bull semen producers within the country and abroad. Israeli bull semen is highly valued in the international market of semen of cattle, because that serves to improve the productive quality of dairy herds in other countries.
Studbook Israeli dairy herd contains information about life, fertility and milk production of cows 99,537 best in many years. This amount is 90% of all animals in the country. Information on each cow includes indicators of animal health, its diseases, genetic line, from which the cow is (pedigree), health and productivity of its calves, quality tests and volumes of milk for each head
Besides cow in Israel is made to 9 million liters of sheep and 11.1 million liters of goat milk per year. The country has 2,500 flocks of sheep and goats. From the milk of sheep and goat dairy industry produces semi-soft and soft cheeses such as feta and Benoni different varieties. Approximately 70% of these cheeses are exported to the U.S., where they are a great price. And about 5% of the produced cheese made from sheep’s and goat’s milk is exported to the EU. The palette of cheeses is extremely diverse. Israel has no more than 500 varieties of cheese in France, for example, but dozens of varieties produced. At present, there are about 50 dairies and cheese makers belonging kibbutz and moshav. Besides them the milk of cattle and small ruminants processes and produces a huge range of diverse dairy public-private concern «Tnuva». It should be noted that the Israeli dairy products of excellent quality.
Unfortunately, the available statistics on milk and its derivatives are no data on camel and horse milk, because its owners only nadaivayut camels — Bedouins in desert areas, and they do not wish to participate in the organization of work. And, of course, the volume of milk production of camel milk is extremely small. This milk is a food component exclusively Bedouin families.
In the dairy industry in Israel a lot of scientific research conducted by the Institute of Animal state in Beit Dagan, Institute of Veterinary Medicine — Kimron Veterinary Medicine, already mentioned Livestock Association. Israel is working on «National Health Service of milk.»
Meat of livestock industry in Israel is represented manufacture and import of beef, as well as the import of live calves for fattening, other than their own calves, culled for meat. To understand the place of meat in the diet of different Israelis enough following figures meat consumption per capita in the actual and percentage forms.
The average Israeli consumes in a year:
Meat just different — 74.4 kg including:
Chicken — 45.5 kg
Fresh beef — 8.7 kg;
Frozen beef — 8.7 kg;
Turkey — 4.3 kg;
Pork — 1.6 kg;
Lamb — 0, 5 kg.
Gross consumption of beef in Israel is 105 000 tonnes per year, of which 45,000 tonnes is imported from Argentina, USA, Australia.
Structure of consumption of meat is as follows:
Fresh beef — 12%;
Frozen beef — 12%;
Chicken — 60%;
Turkey — 6%;
Pork — 2%;
Mutton — 1%;
Other (horse, camel, rabbit, duck, goose) — 7%.
In the year goes to the slaughter in the country about 34,000 head of cattle.
The country has 775 feedlot fattening and 115,000 points, where the weight of fattened steers 200-250 kg (with the weight of discarded meat and bring their calves for imports) to a live weight of 500-550 kg — is lethal condition, with heifers fed up to 400 kg. It is useful to note that a young only about 10% of feeding livestock, and 90% — it imports. Fattening calves are 90-170 days. I want to draw attention to the fact that the average pref young cattle fattening is 1,300 g (1.3 kg) on average. This is a very high figure. For example, we note that in Russia the figure — 450-500 grams. In the European Union — 0.75 -0.9 grams. Currently, our local «giant» concern «Tnuva» discovered meat in Beit Shean, and in general in Israel are 17 slaughterhouses for cattle. Technology issues and rules of kosher slaughter, we will not deal here as it is a completely separate issue.
Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs created and successfully developed an international training program for foreign specialists based on a specially set up for this purpose the center of «Mary.» This center was established in 1958 at the initiative of Prime Minister Golda Meir. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, in 1958 to 2009. 75,212 people have been trained in their countries in the Circuit MASHAV courses: 60,113 people. Trained in education in Israel. 12 thousand Israeli experts and consultants to assist in developing and implementing projects through MASHAV worldwide. MASHAV has 143 partners: government, international organizations, including UN and UNESCO, the International Agency for dissemination of technical and humanitarian cooperation.
MASHAV is funded from the budget of the Jewish Agency, «Jewish Agency» and «Joint», as well as from private donations. The most active part in financing programs MASHAV take Soros Foundation and Solarza. Soros Foundation covers all costs associated with training in Israel or abroad, experts from the USSR, CIS, including from Russia. Recently MASHAV substantially increase their participation in the programs of the United Nations, aimed at helping the poorest countries of the world.
MASHAV activity has 5 areas:
1. Courses in Israel. This international course where participants from different countries are studying in classes, classes which are held on a single, understandable to all language, and national courses organized for students from a particular country.
2. Courses on «the ground». The courses are held at the request of the host country of MASHAV experts to study the «ground.» They cover traditional MASHAV areas in which Israel has been successful, — agriculture, the organization of social life, education, health, the environment, the situation of women.
3. Short-term counseling. MASHAV experts arrive at the request of the host country for fast specialized advice, assistance in the implementation of programs and research in a particular area.
4. Long-term counseling. MASHAV experts arrive at the request of the host country for the implementation of pre-arranged plan or overall assessment test or a long-term project.
5. Joint research programs. Promoted by MASHAV, in cooperation with the U.S., Canada, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands in a number of developed countries.
Training courses are held in Israel in various educational centers — MASHAV branches located in different parts of the country. They learn or improve skills of professionals already received Occupation: Agriculture (agronomists, machine operators, growers, economists, technical and scientific workers, instructors and senior officials. Students grouped in small groups, which allows to pay attention to each student individually. Courses are designed so that at the end of each course, students are prepared by placing yourself project. One in three of the proposed project is usually implemented in the country from which the student came.
Livestock association except in Israel organized and working for many years the Association of Sheep and Goat Breeding, Horse Breeding Association, the Association of Poultry, Fish Farmers Association, the Association of beekeepers, the Association of kibbutzim and moshavim. The country has annual international agricultural and food fair.
Israel is widely known in the world as a writer and producer of the art production equipment for agriculture and agro-processing in the food, including milking systems, and transportation systems, and storage of milk, and technological systems of processing and storage of meat, feed, premixes and ingredients for livestock, poultry and fish.
Especially worth mentioning computer software products, by Israeli experts, to monitor the process of milking, feeding livestock, health status, that is, the physiological characteristics of each animal daily, degree palatability and digestibility of feed, live weight (live weight) of each animal in a particular herd of manure excreted. The same is true for the pig (but without milk) and poultry production, and small ruminants (sheep and goats).
Constant, daily computer control and monitoring of all the animals and birds — is the key to a competent, very efficient feeding, breeding and biological objects of agriculture. Hence the strong economic performance of livestock sector in Israel. Maybe, that’s why there is the biblical name for the country as a «land of milk and honey»?
Pig-breeding.
A few words must be said about pig farming in Israel. Despite the fact that Judaism and Islam prohibits the consumption of pork, though Israel has two rather large pig farms, which from 1952-56’s raise pigs for meat. A southern kibbutz «Lahav» and northern «Mizrah.» But if the southern kibbutz — a Jewish household, the north — this economy is a mixed population with the presence of Christian Arabs. Arab Christians hold a large number of pigs in their backyard and widely use them as food. Kibbutz same «Lahav» — is a special farm. As in «Mizrah» here contain about 10,000 pigs. This commodity herd, but the tribal core. Control the operation of livestock specialists and veterinarians. The kibbutz registered Amut «Institute of Animal Israel.» In the framework of this organization kibbutz organized experimental development base for biotechnology, medicine and cosmetic gauchnyh research. A very large number of biologists, doctors and beauticians bought animals for their experiments and well paid for it. This source of revenue is the second largest economy in the kibbutz. Even religious doctors are experimenting on pigs — the law allows it. Fresh meat remaining after the experiments, process at the local mini-factory in canned and sold for export, such as France, the Czech Republic and other countries. Meat from the kibbutz «Mizrah» also is recycled — for ham, sausages, canned food and are widely sold along with the fresh pork meat in the country. Hence the figure of 2% of the consumption of the meat of the Israeli population.
Horse-breeding.
In Israel, there is no diversity of species of horses. Dominated Arab metisnye horse, and with an emphasis on horses. In the Arab sector of the population used as working horses as sports, as pleasure. Arabs — are big fans of horses traditionally, historically. Many wealthy Arab families in Israel and there are not a few, include horses just for the soul, for beauty, for teaching children techniques of riding. In the Jewish sector of the population in the kibbutzim, moshavim, and even in urban areas, contain only horses for riding. Distributed throughout the clubs and riding schools, where for a small fee, anyone can take a ride once or week (or ten) Horseback riding, without any professional niceties, just to be able to ride a horse. And the lack of none. Statistics does not number the number of horses in the country. Also, there are only fragmentary information about eating (in sausages) supplementation horse.
Camel.
Israel has its own wilderness — the natural cradle of the «ship of the desert» — a camel. In Israel, only one common species — dramader or dromedary. Bactrian or two-humped camels, we have not. Nobody spent headcount camels in the country, but we have at University. Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva, over 20 years ago and works organized «International Centre of camel.» However, here contain only a few dozen of these wonderful animals. Camel milk is healthful for tuberculosis, asthma, diabetes and many others. In Israel, produce a small amount of ice cream from camel milk.
Rabbit-breeding
Rabbit meat s non-kosher in Israel demand, but make it just a couple of small farms, unable to meet the shopping needs. This is a part-time privat farms, breeders metisnye breed rabbits. These small farms are located in the north of Israel. No statistics on them.
Aviculture.
The main types of poultry, cultivated in Israel are, for the extent and popularity:
chickens;
turkey;
guinea fowl;
geese and ducks;
ostriches;
quail and partridge.
Poultry farming in Israel has a dominant role in the production and consumption of meat because the dry climate is the most promising. As we have seen from the above figures, chicken and turkey is about two-thirds of all meat consumed.
High rates of poultry often outstrip consumer demand in the domestic market. Therefore constantly growing proportion of fresh frozen convenience foods, poultry by-products and delicacies from poultry.
Israel’s very high egg chicken breeds. All rocks were derived as meat and eggs, with a focus on broiler (ripening) quality. Long-term work livestock, veterinarians and biologists came to fruition. On average, the chickens in Israel are about 300 eggs a year, and hatching is about 87%. This despite the fact that the survival of chicks is very high. Out of every 100 babies survive 99. That is, mortality is not seen with the exception of the unfortunate events, such as avian influenza and the like. And in time the bird epidemics often sacrificed for preventive care than a natural death.
Turkey has a strong second place in the poultry industry in Israel on all gross, quality and economic. In total poultry production in our country is 18% turkey. Poultry exports about 55% of its turkey in Western Europe. The remainder is converted into gourmet foods, meats, delicatessen and sold on the domestic market in Israel. Practically every kibbutz and moshav are chicken or turkey, and often they both farms.
Annually more than 200,000 tons of chicken and up to 150,000 tons of turkey meat. One can say with absolute certainty that the chickens and turkeys — is the foundation of the food ration every Israeli family, and this also applies to the citizens of the Arab sector of the population.
More recently, in 2009, ended intensive rearing and fattening of geese and ducks on the numerous farms. Israeli farmers engaged in the production of the famous product — foie gras, that is, fatty goose and duck liver. This delicacy is extremely popular in all the restaurants of the European countries and in North America. But animal rights groups and poultry in Israel lobbying ban on intensive fattening of geese and ducks in the liver, showing that this process is extremely inhumane in its basis. Indeed, all who saw it first hand and watched films made by «green» would agree with this opinion. A special law banning that technology fattening. Poultry Israel reacted quickly eliminated these farms and engaged in other forms of production. Whereas previously, prior to the adoption of this law, the geese and ducks had about 10% of the total poultry in Israel.
Our country is developing breeding guinea fowl, quail, but reliable statistics has not been found. While each of us can see the quail eggs in supermarkets.
We would also like to talk about their breeding ostriches in Israel. This sub-sector of poultry began to develop 27 years ago. To date, we have a very active 5 large ostrich farms. They were zoned as follows: two farms in the North, one in the western Negev, one in the northern Negev and the latest in Eilat. What is very interesting is the fact that ostriches were carried out in Israel in the nature of 20-ies of the 20th century. And then disappeared. No one knows where or how. Sometimes still are dried and mummified huge shell eggs from ostriches is that period, almost a century ago.
Ostrich business unfolds around the world rapidly. Already there is a strong konurentsiya between producers of ostrich meat in place of the markets of different countries. Interestingly, from Israel to Europe annually exported about 750 tons of ostrich. Huge egg go to the needs of food, mainly confectionery industry and for the production of mayonnaise. Many farmers eggshell transmit producers of souvenirs. In Israel there is no mechanized collection of ostrich eggs. Ostriches are free in large pens, and workers laid eggs are collected directly from the ground. Ostrich meat diet, almost identical to the biochemical composition of chicken. No wonder ostrich assigned to the same zoological squad. Accounting ostrich egg in the country is underway. This data is only at the farmers themselves, but they are very different to each other. Averages are. One ostrich can be 35-36 kg of meat. At the age of one ostrich weighs 100-120 kg. Egg production from 50 to 120 eggs per year, depending on the feeding and maintenance. Each egg weighs 1300-1600 grams. Under natural conditions, the owls live up to 60 years! Return on ostrich farms varies from 50 to 100%. This is a very strong economic performance, and all because the Ostrich is almost non-waste production. So, apart from meat and eggs of ostrich get to 1.2 — 1, 5 square meters very strong leather that is not inferior in strength elephant. Feathers are for jewelry and souvenirs. Even eyelashes ostriches demanded of them make fine paint brushes.
Fish farming (aquaculture).
Israel provides 40% of its citizens own fish. Annual consumption of fish average Israeli is about 10 kg per year. On the one hand this is not enough, and on the other, given the price of fish in retail trade, not everyone can afford to buy it. Thus, Israel imports into the sea and caught another 60% of the fish to the consumer. Of course, the import of frozen fish arrives. But the industry of pond and marine fish culture in Israel quite intense. The country has 55 fish farms. In the food basket of the average citizen of the fish is only about 2% of the total. 3% of the fish production in ponds and marine farms in total agricultural products produced in the country.
Rapidly developing aquaculture in pools, ponds and cages, the annual output of up to 500 kg of fish per 1 cu. meters of water. Israeli farmers annually, specializing in aquaculture, producing up to 23 tons of freshwater and marine fish. In recent years, trout and carp, traditionally popular in Israel, added sturgeon. Shortage of water resources has stimulated the development of fisheries in the most intense forms. In the Israeli fisheries widely used salt and sea water, and advanced technology allow the maximum use of each cubic meter of water.
Each freshwater pond farming creates a cascade of tiered pools of 10 to 15 on average. In stage has one pond for the growth of algae, utilizing the waste products of the fish. The depth of these pools — 1 meter. Stocking density of 15-20 kg per cubic meter of water. Israel’s aquaculture industry spends annually around 100 million cubic meters, of which about 75% of non-potable water. With natural water scarcity in the country and the region, this is a very significant figure.
In the artificial breeding in Israel cultivate and produce the following types of fish:
Carp — about 6,500 tons a year;
Tilapia — about 8,500 tons a year;
Mulleta — about 1,700 tons a year;
Silver carp — about 800 tons per year;
Trout — about 500 tons per year;
Hybrid bass — about 400 tons per year;
Sea Bream — about 3,300 tons a year;
Other species — about 600 tons per year;
Total — about 22,300 tons a year.
A separate line must specify a unique achievement in the Israeli fish farmers — the production of black caviar on a kibbutz «Dan» in the Galilee. Starting in 2008, increases the amount produced kibbutz expensive delicacy caviar and now sells for export of about 3 tons annually at wholesale price $ 2,800 per 1 kg. So, now, the gross income from the sale of a scarce product is about $ 8 million a year. Sea-farming, fish breeding in Israel, «Denise», and sea bream. Marine farming provides more than 3,000 tons of fish a year. According to Israel’s largest ichthyologist, Doctor of Science (Grand Ph.D.) Alexander Chernitsky, the annual catch of fish in the sea is 2756 tons, grown in the sea 3196 tons catch in the Sea of Galilee is 1396 tonnes of fish per year, and grown in fresh water pond farms — about 19-22 tons.
Beekeeping and bumblebees in Israel.
Israel (population 7.2 million people, the area 20.7 thousand square meters. ) Almost completely sufficient in honey from domestic production. The main indicators of the industry since the mid 90’s are the same: about 500 beekeepers (or bee farms), 80 — 90 thousand bee colonies, 3-4 tons annual production of honey, honey comparable volumes of imports and exports, not exceeding several hundred tons. It can be calculated that the average Israeli is 200-220 apiary bee colonies, the performance of one colony — over 45 kg of honey, that the average Israeli consumes about 0.6 kg of honey per year. Not bad for a small country by geographical standards, a significant part of which is desert. All it means is that, that Israel has a highly developed beekeeping, far ahead in this area, many other countries.
Israelis love honey. Particularly high demand citrus honey, which is produced in the central part of the country, where orange and lemon orchards occupy large areas. The ten major honey plants are also eucalyptus, avocado, plum, cotton, and hyssop. Flower honey from wild honey plants collected in the eastern regions. By tradition, honey and apples in kind or honey cake with apples must be present at the festive table for Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year. Decided to celebrate this holiday with family and friends and relatives want a sweet new year, dipped in honey apple slices. In the two months preceding Rosh Hashanah, commonly sold 1,300 tons of honey (40% of what is available for sale.) This year’s festival took place on 16 and 17 September. Honey is considered to be the industry leader in the kibbutz (cooperative) «Yad Mordechai,» which was established in 1936, is located in the city of Ashkelon, and specializes in the production, procurement, processing and marketing of honey in the early 90’s. He currently controls half of honey operations in Israel and has 270 members. Some of them roam in the honey harvest season in the country with 6,000 thousand cooperative colonies, and 50 people are employed at the factory for the processing and packaging of honey. Kibbutz — is more than cooperative. Although a third of members of the «Yad Mordechai» is currently working abroad, they still cite the kibbutz budget 90% of their income.
In 2002, «Yad Mordechai» has sold 51% of its assets «Eylit Industries», which produces chocolate and coffee, which later merged with a leading producer of dairy products — the company «Strauss.» This merger significantly enhanced the kibbutz in the business and enabled him to dramatically increase the volume of sales of honey and other products, in 2003, they amounted to $ 8 million, and in 2004 is expected to exceed $ 14 million Kibbutz expands its product range and began to produce products with propolis, royal jelly and pollen, to establish production and marketing of organic and monoflernyh and «low-calorie» honey and honey in a special package for children, began to pay more attention to advertising and export of honey. United States, where a large Jewish community, considered to be one of the most promising markets for Israeli honey. In the next 3-4 years, «Yad Mordechai» calculates bring the total volume of sales of its honey, jams, oils and other products in the domestic market and abroad up to $ 22 million (The Jerusalem Post, Sep. 23, 2004).
In total, processing, packaging and trade honey in Israel has 30 companies, coordinated by the National Office of honey.
Along with beekeeping in Israel developed breeding bees for pollination grown in protected and open field tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, strawberries, avocados, cherries and other crops. The company «Bayo-Bi», started breeding a local species of bumblebees (Bombus terrestis) in the early 90’s, now has more than 1,000 customers in Israel and in 32 countries, including in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Finished products company — is shmelinye family, containing several dozen working individuals and the same number of eggs, larvae and pupae. The company is not limited to the supply of bumblebees, but provides its customers with all the necessary technical support in the use of its products. In promotional materials, «Bayo-Bi» notes that bees as pollinators have several advantages over the bees, in particular, a stronger effect on the vibration-pollinated flowers have a unique mechanism of «buzz pollination» is not likely to leave in search of additional greenhouse nectar and pollen work efficiently at low temperatures readily pollinate crops that produce little nectar, etc. It is also noted that bumblebees have proven exceptionally high efficiency in pollinating tomatoes.
In parallel with the breeding of bees, «Bayo-Bee» deals with biological methods of pest control agricultural breeds and sells about a dozen species of ticks, wasps and other insects that are natural enemies of crop pests. The use of these «fighters with parasites» can dramatically reduce the use of pesticides that pollute the environment and agricultural products .. In the development of biological control technology company is working with a number of research centers in the U.S. and the EU, as well as the world’s largest producer of «useful macro-organisms» — Dutch «Korper Bayolodzhikal Systems». Biological products «Bayo-Bi» is exported to the North. America, Europe and Africa as well as in Japan and South Korea.
Crop.
Crop production in Israel is extremely diverse. We will try to consider all the plant growing in the country, although it will not be easy because of the abundance of material and production areas.
Diversity of soil and climatic conditions for growing the most diverse agricultural products. Cereal is, first and foremost, wheat, sorghum, corn.
Wheat
Wheat is grown in Israel in the north. A field of wheat for grain is 82,400 hectares and 18,000 hectares are under wheat intended for fodder, included in the feed and silage mixture. Wheat yield varies from year to year depending on rainfall and intensity of artificial irrigation and an average of 2.5 to 5.0 tons (50 quintals) per hectare. Most of this grain is used in the domestic market, mainly for bread. But the full demand for wheat crops do not cover this and the grain is imported to Israel in imports. The annual production of wheat in the country is 110 — 120 000 tonnes, about 55% of the wheat grown in the south. Due to the excellent performance of milk production in Israel, the country has to constantly bring in fodder (feed) wheat for use in compound feed for livestock. In recent years, feed wheat from the United States replaced the feed grain from Ukraine and Russia, which is much cheaper than the U.S.. Buy from 65 to 285 tons of animal feed annually. Total consumption of all types of wheat in Israel is about 1.7 million tons annually.
Corn.
Corn — one of the major crops of the modern world and the Israeli agriculture. It is a culture-round use and high yield. For food in the country uses about 20% of corn, for technical purposes — 15 — 20%, and about two-thirds — to feed. Using drip irrigation, Israel has made maize yields more than 120 kilograms per hectare. Corn in Israel is a major component of mixed feeds for farm animals, but also her love and as a food product, and as a treat.
Barley, Sorghum, Ris.
Barley is grown in Israel, mostly for the needs of the brewing industry, and, of course, to be included in the combined feed for livestock and poultry.
Sorghum is grown in very limited quantities. Sorghum is in demand in the food industry. Rice is grown in the country, but the number of cultivated fields, and thus the yield varies from year to year. On the amount of rice cultivation certainly influences the situation of water supply in agriculture. The less water, the less the rice produced in the fields. But the figure in Israel are able to grow and love. Probably do not need to say where he was going in Fig. Certainly not in the animal feed. This is especially of foodgrains.
Potatoes.
Potatoes are grown in Israel and is very widely. Cultured and released 25 of its varieties. The best known of these, 11 varieties, but in this popular article, we will not deal with these agronomic details. Our population divides potatoes by color: white and red. And rightly so. Who he loves. But to illustrate the great potato state of Israel, to name just one digit only its yield per hectare — 450 tons! This is a tremendous trust me as a specialist. That’s tons and not quintals. Way to go, workers fields! And do not forget that for a long time in any potato popularly called the «second bread». The key to these excellent results is the intensification of the computerization of the monitoring of each potato field, the most advanced machinery and equipment for planting, cultivating, fertilizing, digging, sorting and storage of potatoes in Israel.
Root crops.
Root and tuber crops — a group of plants that are cultivated for juicy thickened roots — roots and tubers. They are formed at the ends of underground stems or lateral roots. Often these plants are called root crops. In our country, the plants are grown from Root crops dining room and fodder beet, carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip family of celery, turnips, radishes, turnips, radishes, turnips, belonging to the family of cabbage, potatoes, artichokes of the aster family, sweet potatoes from the family vyunkovyh. Among them are food, feed and industrial crops.
Vegetables, fruits, berries and other crops.
Vegetable plants — those who have to eat the leaves without cooking — salads, green onions, spinach, sorrel, fennel, watercress, parsley, collard, mustard greens, borage, savory, etc. They are also called green cultures .
Cabbage grown in Israel every: white , cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, other varieties. Tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet and spicy peppers, zucchini, eggplant, different varieties.
Legumes are peas, beans, beans, different varieties, which are the basis of the Mediterranean cuisine.
As for the fruit, then this fragrant citrus and buttery avocado, and exotic kiwi, guava and fragrant, and fragrant mangoes that successfully mature gardens in the coastal strip. In winter in the valleys mature delicious melons, watermelons, pumpkins and other gourds, and in subtropical areas — sweet bananas, pomegranates and honey dates. Liquid apples, fragrant peaches, cherries and a large cherry grown in the cool mountains of the north. Densely growing trees and walnut trees, peeling off during the harvest the fruits of the olive groves, which are very, very much in the country.
Large areas planted to sunflower oil, and for the needs of the food industry.
Considerable areas are different varieties of tobacco culture. True, gradually, due to nicotine companies, farmers gradually reduce the area of crops.
A variety of berries are grown by farmers, but the first place, of course, is strawberry — large, fragrant, always fresh, which is very, very much. And it pleases!
Winemaking.
Winery, which, as the economy began to develop industry in the country at the beginning of the century, has been now widespread: in Israel, special varieties of grapes are cultivated for the production of red and white vintage wines.
Floriculture
Israeli growers successfully grow an infinite array of colors and a variety of decorative houseplants. Winter Bouquet of the country consists mostly of anemones bright blue, red and purple. Daffodils, irises and sweet peas herald the arrival of spring, but in practice they are now grown throughout the year, often in greenhouses equipped with computer equipment. Intensive research work in the field have constantly enrich the country’s floral palette with new varieties, which have a high vitality and unusual coloring. Despite the fact that the Israeli floriculture focuses primarily on exports, in countless flower shops and kiosks around the country, you can find flowers on almost every taste: it is roses and carnations of all hues, lush and exotic flowers chrysanthemums entitled «Fire bird «, African violets and fragrant gardenias for fans of indoor flowers.
Olives.
This is the most important traditional Mediterranean culture. In Israel, the olive groves are mainly concentrated in the north, but there is also at the center of the country. Roughly the olive groves grow 100,000 fruit trees. Olives grow different varieties. There are about 20. Olive oil, canned olives, green olives with pits and without make up a significant export item of the country. Virtually no Israeli family, no where salads with olive oil. It is safe to say that olives and oil from them — this is a national food, an important component of the Israeli Jewish cuisine. I want to mention that Israel is also grown flax, sesame and linseed do and sesame oils.
High technology for agriculture.
Agriculture of the country is equipped with the most advanced technology and electronic equipment, designed and manufactured in Israel.
Vegetable growing in greenhouses in Israel — is a source of pride professional agronomists, engineers and computer scientists. Each vegetable or flower greenhouse microclimate equipped with facilities for which oversees the computer that regulates ventilation areas of lighting, humidity and temperature.
Greenhouse complex has an area of 3,000 hectares. Israeli greenhouses equipped with sunshades, screens, which allow to adjust the effect of radiation and ultraviolet radiation on plants grown. Ventilation of greenhouses made by means of safety nets, which do not pass into the insect pests. An experienced farmer knows, thereby decreasing the need for processing plant chemicals that are both directly and indirectly affect human health. Needless to say that the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in a greenhouse is not only in-season, but in the off-season. As a result of all these innovations farming a small country like Israel, not only provides the products of its own population, but also exports it in fresh and canned form. Two other important sources of income of the country — growing seedlings of various vegetable plants and flowers in greenhouses. Technology for growing seedlings of vegetables is to use a special drawer in which the root system develops from seeds in clumps substrate.
Transporting seedlings grown so ensures its safety and improves guarantee that it will get accustomed to the new soil. The Dutch invented a greenhouse, allowing a crop in countries with cold climates, and the Israelis — not only use the greenhouse for colder climates and in hot and dry climates. Constructing greenhouses, even in areas not suitable for agricultural conditions, but the use of irrigation systems, the direction of the walls and canopy greenhouses, produce a large crop. For thermal disinfection and heat storage in the soil, use a plastic film. It also prevents the evaporation of moisture and prevents the rise of pests and weeds. Mesh cover is used as a thermal screen in the afternoon — chilling plants at night — keeping warm. People now use mesh cover and insect pests. Irrigation system perfectly solves the problem of the constant shortage of water. Spray irrigation systems to cope with climate-controlled artificially created. Israeli scientists have devised computer programs that control the entire cycle of the greenhouse. In greenhouses Israel by computer control of the position of sun blinds and tons of screens to keep warm, which automatically moves depending on the intensity of solar radiation. Plastic coatings provide thermal disinfection of the soil before planting and heat accumulation in the soil and prevents weeds and pests.
Usually greenhouses used for growing flowers, vegetables, seedlings and saplings, but with any kind of crop guaranteed profits. As the cost of production, installation and servicing of greenhouses rather expensive. But recently began to grow and fruit trees. Vegetables account for about 17% of total agricultural production. Most vegetables are grown in greenhouses and gives the highest yield.
In Israel were led out new varieties that are suitable for growing in hot climates. A large percentage of seedlings and young plants, grown in greenhouses, are exported to many countries. Much attention is paid to the cultivation of flowers, grows about 50% in automated greenhouses and 12% — a mesh covering. Many industrial companies in Israel which manufacture modular systems for greenhouses, also provide installation and maintenance and management of «turnkey». In addition, Israel has produced a variety of models of greenhouses, irrigation systems, equipment for packing and storage of crops, computer programs, the regulatory climate, water and energy saving greenhouses.
Many countries have to learn from the Israelis. The use of greenhouses to grow flowers, vegetables, seedlings and sprouts is guaranteed to produce a positive result. Farmers began to realize that at the present time with a constant increase in global temperature of greenhouses using the most rational decision. Israeli kibbutzim and moshavim in the south greenhouses placed on the ground of the desert, where no other crops is impossible. Thus, the wedge is used for agricultural land is increasing at the expense of areas covered ground.
Israeli achievement — the establishment of computerized greenhouses that can effectively grow vegetables and fruits in a devastatingly hot and dry climate. So, if the average yield of tomatoes in the open field is 60-80 tons per hectare, in greenhouses with climate-controlled computer, — 500 tons.
Irrigation and water supply plant
The secret achievements Israeli farmers is widely used in most modern irrigation technologies, modern agrotechnical equipment, improved methods of production and processing of agricultural products.
In hot climates, the key to success is the efficient and economical use of water stocks .One of the most important achievements in the field of water management should be called in Israel created a drip irrigation system. At present, thousands of kilometers of plastic pipe, equipped with small openings for irrigation of each tree or plant, covers all agricultural areas of the country. This technology allows to use up to 95% of the water supply for irrigation. It is possible to traverse through these droppers strictly dose of fertilizer to each plant — a system known as fertigation. Israel has also applied irrigation water under pressure and subsurface irrigation (prevents the absorption of water by surface roots) All of these systems use computer technology, to take account of such factors as the level of soil moisture, the daily increase in the diameter of the stem or fruit, etc. Developed a of special methods of irrigation, designed for extremely low water consumption. Special protective mesh covering roofs of greenhouses prevent evaporation and leakage of fertilizers and reduce the need for chemical obrabotkah.Oni filter and convert the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the infrared and increased photosynthesis. Mesh cover protects plants from pests, and special mesh cover to the same function as the thermal screen, cooling plants during the day and keeping warm at night. As a result, in a mountain in Galilee and the Negev desert, where summer temperatures exceed 50 degrees, grown more than 600 thousand tons of potatoes, more than 2 million tons of tons of organic vegetables, melons and watermelons, grapes, exotic varieties of fruits — mango, pomegranate, persimmon, avocado , ornamental plants, citrus fruits — oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, Pamela, seeds and plants, flowers, herbs 36-items. The total yield of fruit is nearly 1.5 million tons, of which about two-thirds — of citrus.
We consider it necessary to emphasize that questions Israel’s agricultural economy covered in this article, it almost every section. Therefore, we decided not to separate the facts and figures from the text. In conclusion, I want to bring someone uttered words: the basic principle of Israeli farmers — «everything can grow anywhere.»
It is difficult to say more!
Sources:
Summaries of the Statistical Department of Israel.
AS Ponomarev, Beekeeping Israel, Tel Aviv, 2004
http://www.bio-bee.com
http://www.beemasters.com
http://www.export.gov.il
http://www.isracity.com
http://www.dombee.ru
[Elena Esel’son «Unique phenomenon — Agriculture Israel»] http://www.rehes.org/lst5/eselson1.html
Illustration: agro-tour.co.il
