Israel's Farming—Growing Source of Strength
Total Area Under Cultivation Rises from
350,000 Dunams in 1922 to 1,700,000 *Now
In a little more than a generation, Pal-
estine has been transformed from a primi-
tive land not very different economically'
from its Middle-Eastern neighbors, to the
most highly developed country in that part
of the world. Nowhere is this change more
dramatically indicated than in the agricul-
ture of the State of Israel.
Israel's agriculture is the product of a delib-
. erate and planned transformation of the land
and the people. It has served to change Pales-
. tine's neglected soil into cultivated land and
. to convert the Jews from urban dwellers into
workers on the soil. The development of agricul-
ture was motivated by the Zionist endeavor to
place an ever-increasing number of Jews on the
land. It led to the extensive reclamation of
swamp lands, sand dunes and eroded hilly areas.
As in many parts of the world where the
land has been rendered barren by centuries
of neglect and misuse, extensive irrigation has
been a vital part of Israel's land development
program. The introduction of irrigation made
possible the development of an intensive, di-
versified type of farming. Whereas from 150
to .300 dunams (a dunam is equivalent to a
quarter of an acre) were necessary to provide
a living for one faMily prior to the installa-
tion of irrigation, Jewish settlers have been
able to maintain a reasonable standard of liv-
ing on 26 dunams of irrigated land. This type
of intensive agriculture has made it possible
to settle large numbers of farmers on relatively
small areas of land.
*
*
In 1922, when Jewish settlement in Pales-
tine was just beginning, there were only 1,200
dunams under irrigation, or roughly 3% of the
total cultivated area. By April of this year, it
is expected that 460,000 dunams will be irrigat-
ed, representing well over a quarter of Israel's
cultivated land. 4s a result of the irrigation, the
previous high proportion of Cereal crops de-
clined, while the share of dairy and poultry
products, vegetables and other valuable crops
increased.
Output per unit of land was stepped up as
It result of amelioration, scientific crop rota-
tion, application of fertilizers, introduction of
new types and varieties of crops, and proper
seed selection. The use of tractors and combines
revolutionized many branches of farming by
greatly multiplying the production per worker.
Output per unit of livestock reached high levels
with the introduction of new breeds, cross-breed-
ing and scientific feeding methods.
irrigation. Subsequently, an additional $35,-
000,000 agricultural loan was authorized by
the Export-Import Bank in December, 1950,
for increased fertilizer production, regional ir-
rigation and citriculture promotion, and for
completing the equipment of newly established
farm settlements.
*
*
The total population of Israel increased by
22 per cent from 1949 to 1950, while production
of Jewish farming during' the farm year 1949-50
(October-September) increased by about one-
third as compared with the preceding farm year.
Since agricultural production by non-Jews also
increased considerably during this period, the
increase in total agricultural yield substantially
exceeded-the increase in population.
Thus, despite a rapidly growing population,
the volume of food which has to be imported
has been decreasing as the nation moves to-
ward agricultural self-sufficiency. The Govern-
ment's austerity program and its tightening for-
eign exchange policy have been important fac-
tors in the reduction of food imports. But these
programs would not have been effective with-
out the very marked increase in local food pro-
duction.
Citrus fruits, while no longer holding the
dominant position in agriculture which they
maintained for many years, still remain Israel's
most important export. Because overseas ex-
port markets were closed during World War II,
many citrus plantations were neglected. Further
damage resulted from the neglect of citrus
groves during the recent War of Liberation.
The restoration of citriculture requires an in-
tensive effort, -including the introduction of
large-scale mechanization.
*
*
All of the stone for use in construction in Jerusalem . is
quarried at Kastel, a hill just outside Israel's capital city. This
hill was the scene of one of the fiercest battles of Israel's War
of Liberation. The State of Israel $500,000,000 bond issue will
provide funds for large-scale expansion of Israel's building and
building supply industries during the coming three years. In-
creased construction activity will be an important part of
Israel's program of planned development.
All Aboard Citrus from Israel
*
A substantial proportion of the funds made
available to Israel through the $500,000,000
State of Israel bond issue, which will be floated
in the United States on May 1st, will be de-
voted to the expansion of agriculture. This de-
velopment program will not represent a new
approach for Israel, but will rather be an in-
tensified application of techniques already in
use, expan ed with the aid of the additional
resources to be made available through the
bond issue.
The major emphasis in this development pro-
gram will be in the field of irrigation. Eight im-
portant regional irrigation schemes which will
irrigate a total of one half million dunams, will
be carried forward within the next three years.
The largest of these will be in the Western
Galilee, in Eastern Judea and in the Beisan
area.-
*
*
*
The tremendous expansion of Israel's ag-
The achievement of maximum production as
riculture is shown by the fact that the total
a result of these programs requires considerable
area under cultivation rose from 350,000 du-
nams in 1922 to 1,700,000 dunams at the pres-
investment in addition to the capital outlay
for irrigation. It will be necessary to acquire ad-
ent time. The value of Israel's agricultural
ditional agriculture equipment, to plant fruit
products increased more than twelve-fold dur-
trees, and to increase the revolving capital in
ing the same period. The number of cattle
agriculture by corresponding amounts of seeds,
rose eight-fold and the number of sheep and
goats fourteen times.
fertilizers, packing materials, etc. In addition,
store houses and cold storage plants are"needed
*
*
*
for the additional production, curing barns for
Particularly striking are the rapid advances
the processing of tobacco, a plant for the ex-
made since the State .of Israel was established.
traction and refining of sugar, the expansion of
In two and a half years of Statehood, 215 new existing factories for the probessing of oil, etc.
agricultural establishments were set up and
more than . 60,006 immigrants were absorbed on In relation to the increase in fodder production,
an expansion of dairy farming and poultry
the land. The value of farm products has in- _ farming is necessary, and related industrial pro- -
creased more than one third during the same
duction will also have to expand.
brief period of Jewish independence. _
It is proposed to establish an Agricultural
An important feature of Jewish rural life
Bank with an initial capital of $35,000,000.
in Israel has been the establishment of fac-
The most important function of this bank will
tories and work-shops in many agricultural set-
be to grant long-term credits at low rates for
tlements. Industrial activity forms an impOrtant
investment purposes. The expansion of pro-
source of income for a considerable number of
duction in older, well-established farms and
rural settlers. The industries most commonly
settlements will be the major field of the Ag-
found in the rural, areas are those which are
ricultural Bank's activities. Seasonal loans
related to agriculture such as , canning of fruit
and other short-term loans will continue •to
and vegetables, manufacture of plywood, manu-
be given by the other existing banks, as in
facture of agricultural machinery, etc: In some
the past.
settlements the income from industrial and
Israel looks forward to the time when it will
handicraft activities amounts to more than half
not only be able to discontinue the importation
of the total income.
of food products, but will assume an important
The particularly rapid rate of progress
role as an exporter of foodstuffno many lands.
since 1948 reflects the concerted effort of the
Within the next few years, Israel should be
Government to increase food production and
able to establish a sound economic basis in ag-
to settle a large number of immigrants on the
riculture and production. Such a firm founda-
land a $35,000,000 allocation under the $100,-
tion is indispensable for the achievement of
000,000 Export-Import Bank Loan was set aside
Israel's economic independence and self-suf-
for wide expansion in. land cultivation and
ficiency.
Israel Bond Drive to Assist Merchant
Shipping, Supply of Domestic Needs
Israel is planning to double °Its
merchant shipping, in order to
strengthen the country's e c o -
nomic position. Immediate plans
include the purchase of a 20,000-
ton passenger Vessel, and several
large general cargo and fruit-
carrying ships. Air transporta-
tion is on the rise; 115,000 pas-
sengers passed through Lydda
Airport in :950, as compared
with 92,000 in 1949. Air freight
increased from 450 tons in 1949
Stone for the Builders of Jerusalem
to 1,900 tons in 1950. Funds de-
rived from t h e forthcoming
$500,000,000 Israel Government
bond issue will be used for large-
scale expansion of Israel's indus-
try, communications and agri-
culture.
* * *
In its efforts to speed the de-
velopment of its industries, Is-
rael has increased the propor-
tion of investment goods in its
imports from 24 percent in 1949
to 34 percent in 1950, while de-
creasing the share of consumer
goods from 36 percent to 26 per-
cent. By developing its own in-
dustry, Israel will be able to sup-
ply a greater portion of its con-,
sumer needs from domestic pro-
duction. The Israel Govern-
ment's $500,000,000 bond issue
win help to accelerate the de-
velopment of Israel's industry
and will aid in the achievement
of economic self sufficiency.
Crates of oranges are hoisted onto a freighter in Haifa
harbor for shipment to krael's customers in many lands. The
development of Israel's foreign trade is an impor4nt objective
of the forthcoming $500,000,000 State' of Israel bond issue.
Present plans call for an increased supply and variety of com-
modities for exports to countries in all parts of the world:
New Methods in Israel's
Expanding Shoe Industry
American production and as-
sembly line techniques have
been introduced for the first
time into the manufacture of
shoes in Israel with the opening
of the Jerusalem Shoe Corpora-
tion plant. Producing 600 pairs
a day after six months of oper-
ation, the factory will soon be
making approximately 2,500
daily.
Unlike previously established
shoe factories in Israel, the Je-
rusalem Shoe Corporation has
broken down the manufacture of
shoes into. almost 200 distinct
operations. The economy and ef-
ficiency of mass production
methods are thus being made,
available to one of Israel's quick-
ly growing industries. The need
for footwear, previously met al-
most exclusively by imports, is
now being supplied more and
more by domestic products. .
The Corporation's increasing
need for workers has provided a
significant source of employ-
ment for new immigrants to Is-
rael. This is particu'larly true be-
cause the assembly line type of
operation does not, for the most
part, require skilled workers.
Most of Israel's new citizens are
relatively unskilled; • the new
shoe factory can make excellent
use of them. At the same time,
the newcomers have a chance to
learn a trade, and to advance in
skill in the course of time.
It is an interesting fact that
the Jerusalem Shoe Corpora-
tion has found that 'persons
with previous shoemaking ex-
perience are not too well suited
for work in the factory. This
parallels the experience of
many American • manufactur-
ing firms which introduced
mechanization into fields which
had been the domain of skilled
craftsmen. Except for a few
operations which are perform-
ed by . hand, all of the Corpora-
tion's work is done on highly
specialized machines.
Standards of speed regarded
as normal in the United States
have not yet been reached by the
workers at the plant. The qual-
ity of the work, however, is very
high, and observers have com-
mented on the conscientious way
in which the worker in Israel
approaches his job. Output per
worker is on the rise, and it is
anticipated that it will soon
reach the American average. -
Before very long it is hoped
Israel will be supplying all of
its own shoe requirements,
and will be able to discontinue
the impartation of footwear.
Eventually, Israel should be in
a position to serve as a shoe
supply center for many coun-
tries in the Middle East, and
other areas. The $500,000,000
State . of Israel bond issue
which will be floated in the
United States on May 1, will
play a crucial role in making
possible the necessary expan-
sion of Israel's industrial ca-
pacity.
Established by American busi-
nessmen, the Jerusalem Shoe
Corporation is an outstanding
example of the vast possibilities
for' industrial growth in Israel.
Its plant promises to be one of
the most important factories
that entire part of the world.
6
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, March 2, 1951