Cultivated land of the Galilee

Tree plantations 10,000 Ha

Aqua culture 300 Ha

Natural pasture 40,000 Ha

Open filed cut flowers 200 Ha

Field crops and vegetables 9,000

Total cultivated land 19,500 Ha

Northern R&D
Map Legend

1. Migal - laboratories &

offices
2. Hula Orchards - citrus &
deciduous
3. Fichman Farm - highland
orchards & vineyards
4. Matityahu Farm -
highland orchards
5. Compit in Ma’alot -
edible mushrooms
6. Hatal - scrubland grazing
7. Karei Desheh - range
cattle
8. Beticha - subtropical
orchards
9. Avnei Etan - flowers,
citrus, bulbs, orchards,
vegetables
10. Givat Hananya - Blossom
orchards
11. Kfar Hananya - orchards
12. Misgav-Rakefet - pot
plants & flowers
 Goal
Directing the agricultural branches
in the region into profitable channels
Objectives
• Increasing profitability and stability of agriculture
in the region by improving existing crops and
developing new technologies and crops
• Applying and transferring techniques developed
by Northern R & D and other research institutes by
means of model farms and active extension service
• Increasing efficiency in use of water
• Reinforcing the links between the local and
international markets
• Improving the general professional level of local
farmers
• Maintaining environmental quality
 Galilee Panhandle

The significance of water use efficiency

for agriculture in the Galilee
Israel Rainfall
1,000

distribution 800

700

500-600

Annual Average (mm) 200-400

North: 720 100-200
Mountain: 550
<100
South: 30
 The Northern part of
Israel as the relative
advantage of being
close to fresh water
Total water allowance for the North is 201 M Cu. sources, but due to the
M. out which:
• 190 M Cu. M. of fresh water
water crisis and lack of
• 11 M Cu. M. treated wastewater alternative water it
• The figures represents 100% soon became a major
decrease in water allowance in
disadvantage
comparison with year 2000.
 Integral master plan for increase in water
use efficiency in Northern fruit tree
plantation using innovative irrigation
technologies

MAIN OBJECTIVE: achieve high water

use efficiency in fruit tree plantations using
short term R&D based on technological
innovation

ICA charitable foundation

MIGAL – Galilee Technological center
Northern agriculture R&D
 Project Partners
• ICA charitable foundation
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Plant Production and Marketing Board
• Agricultural Extension Service
• Agricultural Research Organization (ARO)
• Northern R&D – Project coordinator
 Project outline
• MAIN OBJECTIVE: achieve high water use efficiency using
short term R&D based on technological innovation
• Project uniqueness:
1. Address main objective by dealing directly with reducing
water quantities and not with water qualities
2. Focus on innovative technologies: irrigation methods and
irrigation control at different stages.
• Integration of strong team of researches
• The project is composed of eight research programs dealing with
the main fruit species in the Galilee. Each is a comprehensive
research program written in complete scientific format.
• Incorporation with other research entities and contributing
agents
• Management by balanced steering committee
• Applied R&D
• Short term R&D – three years
 Project components
1. New Ace avocado plantation irrigated by pulses
using limited root zone.
2. Comparison of three different and integrated
irrigation methods to reduce water consumption of
avocado.
3. Reducing water consumption of mango by
combining hormones and plastic sheets
4. Sustainable management of apple plantations under
severe water shortage
5. Sustainable management of nectarine plantations
under severe water shortage
6. Optimization of irrigation in almond plantations
7. Optimization of irrigation in olive plantations during
oil accumulation
8. New water stress indicators for avocado plantations