AGRICULTURE
In the twelve years following the establishment of the State in 1948,
cultivated land area increased from 150,000 to 400,000 hectares about
a fifth of Israel's land area (Figure 13). Thereafter, cultivation
increased far less rapidly, stabilizing at 440,000 hectares in the early
1980s, while at the same time shifting somewhat from central Israel to
peripheral areas. Over half of all cultivated land is irrigated. In the
first quarter century of the State's existence, output grew at an
average of 6% annually; by the end of the 1980s growth in this sector
had slowed to 1% (Figure 14).
The most severe constraint on Israeli farmers is the lack of water. This
deficiency influences agriculture in two ways: first, by limiting the
amount of land which can be cultivated; and second, by inducing farmers
to use both land and water as efficiently as possible. Toward this
latter goal, highly mechanized, high-input methods and water-saving
irrigation systems are employed. Israel, for example, has pioneered drip
irrigation and other techniques to increase water efficiency (Figure
15). Drip irrigation has proven so advantageous that by 1988 it was the
method chosen for over half of all irrigated land in Israel.
This and other irrigation techniques have gone a long way toward
improving water use efficiency; but even these Israeli innovations have
their downside. Israeli scientists, anxious to stretch the country's
water resources as far as possible, have developed techniques for
recycling wastewater for agricultural purposes. They have also developed
crop strains which can be grown with brackish water. Both these
innovations produce short-term gains, but may cause long-term
environmental damage. Repeated irrigation with brackish water increases
soil salinity, eventually making it unsuitable for agriculture a
problem which farmers in the Jezreel Valley and in the Arava already
face. Moreover, salty residues are washed into the groundwater, damaging
the quality of water in the coastal aquifer (where overpumping has
accelerated the process) and other sources. The increased reuse of
treated effluent, however, may be both economically and environmentally
beneficial, so long as the level of treatment is high.
Israeli farmers use relatively large quantities of pesticides and
herbicides to increase productivity as well (Figures 16 and 17). The
intensive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides damages
water, soil, and human health, as chemicals are washed into the water
system, and toxic residues remain on produce.
In years to come, two factors will contribute to the reduction of
fertilizer use. Firstly, economic constraints and technological
development will facilitate more efficient uses of fertilizers, better
monitoring and application techniques, and crop-specific fertilizers.
Secondly, increased public demand for organic produce, which can be
promoted by public education, can contribute to decreased fertilizer
use.
Although the use of certain highly toxic, slowly decomposing substances
such as DDT has been discontinued, similar substances will only be taken
off the market when suitable substitutes are found. Promising trends
include the use of bio-pesticides, rapidly decomposing substances,
selective toxicity pesticides, and increased application of integrated
pest control methods by Israeli farmers. Integrated pest management
makes use of selected organisms for biological control of specific
pests, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing environmental damage.
The farming industry will have to work hand in hand with environmental
policy-makers if sustainable, environmentally-sound practices are to be
effectuated in the future. The international control of pesticide use,
and environmental and health standards imposed by an increasingly
unified international market should provide impetus for inter-sectorial
and inter-ministerial cooperation. Innovations in greenhouse technology,
and developments in genetics and biology, may permit a more efficient
and hopefully more environmentally sustainable system of
agricultural production.