2023-12-14 18:09:00
The Ministry of Agriculture’s budget for 2023 will be increased by NIS 64 million for used water for agriculture, and supports to encourage the planting of required crops – this is what Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter agreed with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The increase was included as an amendment to the budget that was finally approved today (Thursday) by the Knesset plenary. It was also agreed that the cut of a quarter of a million shekels in the support budget promised to farmers would be postponed to 2024, and would be discussed again with the farmers’ representatives.
The amendment means a significant reduction in the price of water used for agriculture (sewage water that can be reused), from NIS 1.43 per cubic meter of water to NIS 73 per cubic meter. The current increase will be specific to the quarter of the war, that is, for the months of October-December 2023. However, Dichter announced that he intends to maintain the reduction in the 2024 budget as well.
In addition to this, an immediate allocation of NIS 12 million was agreed upon with the Treasury to encourage the planting of tomatoes in the Western Negev, to increase local production, with the aim of ensuring a full supply for the summer of 2024 and the return of the growers in the Otaf to agricultural activity and functional continuity. Discussions on the agriculture budget for next year, as well as the plan for the following years, will begin immediately with the transfer of the amendments to the 2023 budget.
According to the Minister of Agriculture’s announcement, the amendment was reached after lengthy negotiations with the Ministry of Finance and with the intervention of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. “After a long struggle with the Ministry of Finance, today we managed to correct a decades-long historical injustice in Israel,” said Dichter, “Finally the state recognizes that the farmers who make use of frozen water are solving a problem for the state and it is appropriate that the state participate, at least as a first step, in transporting the water to the agricultural area. Water is a critical means of production in the agricultural sector, accounting for about 20% of expenses.From a strategic point of view, there is no reason why farmers should have to pay for it, as is customary all over the world.
According to Dichter, the State of Israel after October 7th understands very well how important it is to help farmers in every possible way so that they can continue to exist, and produce Israeli products. “The incentive given to farmers today will give them breathing space for the coming season and for the seasons to come. 52 million shekels is the swallow that foreshadows the Ministry of Agriculture’s policy to increase agricultural production in Israel. At the same time, the Ministry handles the regulation of the land issue in agriculture and the workforce needed for agriculture.”
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