2006
CBS, STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF ISRAEL 2006
19
AGRICULTURE
This chapter presents annual data on
agriculture in Israel (including Jewish
localities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza
area).
Agriculture includes agriculture, forestry and
fishing as defined in the Standard
Classification of Economic Activities, 1993.
The years in the tables, through 1985/86, are
agricultural years beginning on October 1. As
of 1986, the years in most tables are calendar
years (January-December).
includes areas in which crops were sown but
not reaped.
SOURCES AND METHODS OF
COMPUTATION
Agricultural Areas: Until 2002, data were
obtained from an annual census conducted
in co-operation with the Ministry of
Agriculture. As of 2003, data are obtained
from the “Survey of Agricultural Areas and
Activities”. Survey data are collected from
various sources (e.g., production and
marketing boards, and organizations of
farmers). Owing to changes in data collection
methods, the figures cannot be compared.
LAND AND CROP AREA
(Tables 19.1-19.4)
DEFINITIONS
LIMITATIONS OF THE DATA
Agricultural areas: The entire farm area is
registered according to the geographic
location of the locality and not according to
the geographic location of the cultivated
area. As of 2003, “agricultural crop areas by
natural region”, and “agricultural crop areas
by regional council” (Tables 19.3-19.4)
include only areas in Jewish localities.
Area of flowers and garden plants: The
area of flowers and garden plants is included
in the total area designated for agriculture,
but due to problems with data collection in
the industry since 2000, there is no way of
estimating the exact area in which flowers
and garden plants are grown.
Physical area for crops: The area in
which the farm grew agricultural crops during
the survey year. These are areas whose
yield was harvested and gathered even if it
was poor, and also include areas in which
crops were sown but not reaped due to
drought.
Agricultural area, by industry: The physical
area used for agriculture - excluding natural
pasture area, and including area that has
been sown but not reaped.
Area for other uses: Area of buildings, yards
and roads in the agricultural farm as well as
areas fit for cultivation on which there were
no crops during the survey year.
Between 2001 and 2004, also includes
flowers and garden plants area.
Fishery area: Area of fish ponds (including
industrialized fishery), and area of reservoirs
in which fish are grown.
Industrialized fishery: Fish ponds with fully
computerized climate control, which allows
them to continue production throughout the
year. (Production per dunam in industrialized
fisheries is 50 times greater than production
in regular fish ponds.)
Bi-crop: Two crops grown in the same plot
during the same year.
Species area: Total area (in dunams) of
species grown during the survey year
(including bi-crops), which were harvested
and gathered even if the yield was poor.
In drought years (e.g., 2000 and 2001) also
AGRICULTURE
‫ שנתון סטטיסטי לישראל‬,‫למ''ס‬
MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK AND
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS
(Tables 19.5 and 19.6)
Source of the data: The Ministry of
Agriculture, based on reports of the Dairy
and Poultry Councils.
FOREST AREA
(Table 19.7)
Forests in Israel, whether natural or planted,
constitute about 9% of the total land area, of
which 4% is planted.
The functions of the forests include:
protection of broad land areas, land
preservation, improvement of environmental
quality (“green areas”), recreation and leisure,
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provision of timber, improvement of animal
husbandry, etc.
In recent years, the area in which new forests
are planted in the northern and central
regions
of
Israel
has
diminished
considerably. Most of the new planting is in
the southern region of Israel.
Source of the data: Organization of the
Israel Bio-Organic Agriculture Association
(I.B.O.A.A.)
EMPLOYMENT
(Table 19.9)
SOURCES OF THE DATA
a.
Employed persons – according to
Labour Force Surveys.
b.
Employee jobs of foreign workers –
according to employers’ reports to the
National Insurance Institute.
See explanation on Employed Persons,
Employees/Jobs, Employee Jobs in the
Introduction to Chapter 12, Labour and
Wages.
DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
New forest area - an area in which there
were no forests in the past.
Reforestation area - An area in which there
were forests in the past but the forest was cut
down because the trees were damaged due
to various causes such as pests, droughts,
fires, or snow. Reforestation and filling of the
forest space is done in these areas.
SOURCE OF THE DATA
The Jewish National Fund (JNF).
LIMITATIONS OF THE DATA
The data in the table refer only to forest areas
handled by the JNF, and do not include forest
areas in nature reserves and national forests.
Because this definition is problematic, no
data from natural forests are presented.
OTHER PRODUCTION FACTORS
(Tables 19.10 -19.12)
DEFINITIONS
Capital stock in agriculture: Total value of
all fixed physical assets, which serve the
production of agricultural produce: fruit
plantations, livestock, agricultural machinery
and equipment, agricultural structures,
irrigation network, greenhouses, fish ponds
and drainage. Since 1970, land reclamation
for agriculture has been included. The value
of assets: land, forests, water plants,
residential buildings, roads, electricity
installations, etc. is not included. Nor is the
value of assets in the fishing industry
included, or the value of spraying aircraft
included.
Gross capital stock: Gross value of assets,
before deduction of cumulative depreciation.
Net capital stock: Gross capital stock less
cumulative annual depreciation up to the
survey year.
SOURCES
AND
METHODS
OF
COMPUTATION
Capital stock: computed by the “perpetual
inventory” method, according to which a
given year's capital stock includes the sum of
gross capital formation in assets according to
whose "lifetime" depreciation is still deducted.
The price indices that serve for deducting
annual investment are specific for each type
of asset.
Part of the gross capital formation is
obtained from estimates of capital formation
for the national accounts (agricultural
equipment and machinery, agricultural
structures, greenhouses, irrigation network
and land reclamation); see introduction to
Chapter 14 - National Accounts.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
(Table 19.8)
Organic agriculture is a method of growing
plants and raising livestock at their natural
pace, with full consideration for life
processes in their growth environment,
careful attention is paid to recycling and
prevention of pollution in the environment.
Similarly, pesticides, chemical fertilizers and
hormones are not used.
The volume of organic agriculture has
increased in recent years, due to the
demands
of
consumers
and
the
establishment for clean and ecological
products. The product basket includes all
types of vegetables, fresh fruit, dairy
products, eggs, meat and poultry, as well as
various processed products.
In the Western world there is more demand
for and awareness of these products than in
Israel. Therefore, most of these products are
intended for export.
In 2005 there were approximately 360
organic farmers, who were concentrated
mainly in the northern and in the southern
regions of Israel, because the central region
is more affected by crop-dusting and other
sources of pollution.
AGRICULTURE
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Another part is estimated as follows:
Livestock: Data on fixed value of capital
stock are obtained by multiplying the number
of livestock (with a life span exceeding one
year) at the beginning of each year by the
respective price of each unit (see also the
definition of “number of animals” below).
Fruit plantations: The data on capital
formation value in new plantations according
to species are obtained by a normative
computation of the value of expenditure expenditure per dunam multiplied by the
number of dunams according to the age of
the plantation until fruit bearing.
Fish ponds: Data on capital formation are
obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, and
include capital formation in industrialized
fishery.
Number of animals. Data were obtained
from various professional animal husbandry
organizations and from the Ministry of
Agriculture.
The poultry inventory is based mainly on data
regarding chick hatchings.
Water for agriculture: See Chapter 21 Energy and Water.
area.
For local manufacturing includes all of the
fresh produce supplied for manufacturing,
including fresh produce after industrial
processing.
Exports: Fresh agricultural produce exported
in the same year. As of 1986, excluding sales
to the Judea, Samaria and Gaza Area.
The prices are recorded as f.o.b. (rates
charged at the port).
These data are not necessarily identical to
those in Chapter 16 - Foreign Trade. The
differences result from the fact that part of
the fresh produce shipments are exported on
a consignment basis. Therefore, the value
declared to the Customs authorities when
shipping abroad are not necessarily the
same as the final sale value of these goods.
Intermediate
produce
is
agricultural
produce that re-enters the agricultural
production process (e.g., locally grown barley
used for livestock feed).
Data on intermediate produce also include
data on destruction of agricultural produce
and changes in livestock inventory,
Income originating in agriculture is the
income of "primary" production factors
(labour and capital) employed in agriculture.
Income is estimated as the sum of the value
of total agricultural output as well as
compensation and additional industry
receipts, less the value of the input. The
estimates of agricultural income that appear
here differ from those appearing in Chapter
14 - National Accounts, and do not include
income from non-profit institutions.
Compensation and other receipts of the
industry include all transfers (excluding
subsidies to production units), compensation
from insurance (such as natural damages),
drought compensation, compensation on
water cutbacks, wage supplements and other
receipts (various subsidies).
As of 1991, also including compensation from
private insurance companies.
SOURCES AND METHODS OF
COMPUTATION
Purchased input is an inclusive estimate for
each of the main input items. The main
sources are as follows: imports of agricultural
inputs (such as feed); supply from local
production (such as oil cake and fertiliser);
water consumption, as estimated by the
Water Commission; data from surveys of
distributors and production boards (such as
INPUT, OUTPUT AND
DOMESTIC PRODUCT
(Tables 19.13-19.21)
DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
Input: composed of total materials and
services purchased by agriculture from other
activities in Israel and from imports (the
purchased input), the intermediate produce
and the depreciation in renewal prices.
Output: The value of agricultural production
(including intermediate produce) with the
addition of investment in new plantations and
afforestation. The data include output mostly
produced (especially harvested) during the
survey year, even if production began during
the previous year and the marketing in the
years that followed. The data on citrus fruit
include all the harvest from AugustSeptember of the preceding year to JulyAugust of the survey year.
Destinations of output:
For local consumption: The produce
destined for direct consumption by the
population of Israel including consumption by
the farmer and the farmer’s household
("home consumption"), and includes produce
directed to Judea, Samaria and the Gaza
AGRICULTURE
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pesticides);
financial
reports
of
the
government and local authorities; analysis of
the balance sheets of various organizations.
Depreciation is estimated at renewal prices
by the 'straight line' method and is based on
the Bureau's series on investments in
agriculture (see "Capital stock", above).
Compensation
for
employee
jobs
(formerly: compensation of employees):
based on the wages series, obtained from
the summaries of employers' reports to the
National Insurance Institute (see Chapter 12 Labour and Wages). They include wages of
workers
paid
through
the
Wages
Administration of the Employment Services in
addition to social supplements paid by the
employer. Wages include only compensation
for employee jobs, and do not include
imputation of wages to the farm owners.
See detailed definition in the paragraph
“Definitions of Wages, Compensation and
Labour Cost” in Chapter 14 - National
Accounts.
Output: estimates of vegetables, fruit,
poultry, cattle, milk, eggs, fish and part of the
field crops are based chiefly on monthly
reports from wholesalers, production boards,
and from industrial enterprises, on produce
received from the farms for the local market,
for export and for manufacturing. Estimates
of private sales, home consumption and
intermediate produce are added to these
data.
Production of some field crops is estimated
by multiplying the average yield per dunam
by the area sown. Field data are obtained
from the Israel Association of Field Group
Growers and from the instructors at the
Agricultural Extension Service of the Ministry
of Agriculture.
The value of agricultural output (quantity
multiplied by price) is an estimate adjusted to
the average general price level of each year.
The value of each product in the month of
marketing is adjusted to the average of the
year according to the Consumer Price Index.
The agricultural output value usually
excludes board fees and marketing
commissions.
Production value at previous year prices
is obtained by multiplying the quantity of each
item by the price of the previous year. This
value is used in calculating the quantitative
change in the series (see "Indices" below).
New plantations and afforestation. Data on
AGRICULTURE
investments in afforestation are obtained
from the Land Development Authority, while
data on investment in new plantations is
obtained by normative computation of the
costs of cultivating the plantation fields until
fruit bearing.
Indices: Changes in quantity and price of the
various components of the agricultural
account were computed according to the
Laspeyres
and
Paasche
methods,
respectively, using an estimate of the value at
previous year's prices. It should be noted that
the differences between the price indices
derived from the agriculture account (“implicit
indices”) and the price indices of agricultural
output presented in Chapter 13 - Prices, are
due mainly to differences in definition.
Whereas the price indices relate to the entire
agricultural output, those in Chapter 13 and in
Table 19.11 relate to the traded produce only.
Moreover, the weights of the production price
index are current weights, whereas the
weights of the output price index are fixed.
The same applies to the Index of Input Prices
in Agriculture, which is derived from the
Agriculture Account, as compared with the
Index of Input Prices in Chapter 13 - Prices.
Imports of agricultural produce: data
received from the Ministry of Agriculture,
which represent the main agricultural
imports.
Absorption of vegetables and fruit to
manufacturing establishments: the source
of the data is the survey Absorption of
Vegetables and Fruit in Manufacturing
Establishments.
The
survey
includes
approximately
50
manufacturing
establishments. The establishments provide
data on the amount of processed produce
intended for the domestic market and for
export, and on the price paid to the farmer
for the products.
LIMITATIONS OF THE DATA
1. Data on private sales of
produce,
on
home
consumption,
and
on
intermediate produce in
agriculture are based on
estimates.
2. Data on capital formation in
new plantations are mainly
based on calculations of the
Ministry of Agriculture.
3. Some of the data on inputs
are based on partial records
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jams appear under “fruit and sugar”,
margarine appears under “oils and fats”, etc.
As of 2001, it was decided to add drinks
(including water, alcoholic beverages, beer
and imported wines) and stimulants (coffee,
tea, and cocoa beans) to the food supply
balance sheet according to the FAO
guidelines.
Quantities of commodities are recorded at
the weight and measure of the primary
commodity. For example, canned vegetables
are included in the balance sheet as
quantities of fresh vegetables.
Legumes - including peas for eating and
canning.
Vegetables and melons - including corn,
watermelons and sweetmelons.
Fresh fruits excluding citrus - this group does
not include olives for oil, almonds and
pecans. Those appear in different items in
the balance.
The commodity “Butter” is included under
Oils and Fats, whereas “Cream” is included
under Milk and Dairy Products. The (general)
group “From animals” in Table 19.22 includes
the groups of commodities: meat, eggs, fish,
milk and dairy products.
Production: domestic agricultural production
in the survey year, i.e., the calendar year
(January-December), except for citrus fruits,
which are from August-September of the
preceding year to July-August of the survey
year.
Data on production (tons) for the
commodities: Unlike data on agricultural
production (in previous tables), the
production data for the commodities
livestock for meat, beef, sheep and goats
and pigs do not include internal organs.
Internal organs appear in a separate
paragraph.
Production data for the commodities poultry
and turkey include bones and internal organs
(live weight). These definitions are in
accordance with the international demands
of the International Organization of Food and
Agriculture.
Production data for beverages: water, wine
and alcoholic beverages and beer, are listed
in millions of litres.
Exports: exports sent overseas and surplus
(positive) of food commodities transferred
from Israel to Judea, Samaria and the Gaza
Area.
Imports: imports from overseas and surplus
(e.g., from agencies that
provide spare parts for
agricultural
equipment).
Additionally, some of the
input items are measured
according
to
chained
changes in quantities and
prices, where the base year
is 2000 (e.g., data on
transport and packing).
4. As of 2000, there has been
a break in the series due to
changes in the calculation
method.
FOOD SUPPLY & NUTRIENTS
(Tables 19.22-19.24)
DEFINITIONS
Food supply: The amount of food available
to the public (exceeding the amount
consumed).
Food supply balance sheet is the record
and sum total of the sources of food
according to their description and the
calculation of their nutritional value (calories,
fat, protein, minerals and vitamins) consumed
on average per capita per day, by the
average population living in Israel in the year
surveyed (excluding temporary residents and
tourists who stay less than a year in Israel).
The balance sheet is drawn up in the form
determined by the Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO), with some adaptations to
conditions in Israel.
Until 1986/87 data were published according
to agricultural years (October-September). As
of 1988, data are published for calendar
years.
As of 2001, the coefficients used to calculate
nutritional values were changed and adapted
to Israeli products, with the help of the
Department of Nutrition in the Ministry of
Health.
Food commodity: The food commodities
recorded here are generally 'primary'
commodities. These commodities serve as
the basis for calculating the nutritional values
of food commodities obtained from them. For
example, the item 'wheat' contains wheat
used for manufacture of bread, biscuits,
noodles etc., except for quantities that are a
component of another commodity in the
balance sheet.
The “basic” food products were eliminated
and were expressed in their basic form; i.e.,
AGRICULTURE
)128(
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(positive) of food commodities transferred
from Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Area to
Israel.
Change in stocks: commodities in the stock
at the beginning of the year, both from the
and seed, for industrial processing, or for
production of another commodity appearing
in the balance. For perishable food
commodities e.g., fruit and vegetables, waste
is estimated according to quantities that
rotted or were destroyed between the stage
of wholesale marketing and the retail
marketing stage or the depreciation resulting
from importing and uses by industry. The
estimate of waste is calculated according to
coefficients.
domestic production of the previous year and
from imports, less commodities that
remained in the stock at the end of the
surveyed year - whether they were imported
or grown and produced during the surveyed
year, but consumed during the following year.
Other supply and waste (Table 19.22): This
column indicates quantities used for fodder
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS
1081
Agricultural Survey 1995
CURRENT BRIEFINGS IN STATISTICS
13, 2002 Agriculture in Israel 2000:
Area and Livestock
6, 2003 Agricultural Activity Account in Israel,
TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
58
Input and Output Price Indices in the
Agricultural Activity, 1986
JUBILEE PUBLICATIONS (on the occasion
of Israel’s 50th year)
Agriculture (No. 2 in the series)
2001-2002
20, 2005 Food Supply Balance Sheet, 2003-
2004
14, 2006 Agriculture in Israel 2004-2005
AGRICULTURE
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