an for agriculture in cen-
\--
/-/ and land
tral Israel, an encouraging eco-
nomic environment for
developing the Negev has been
created. The program uses ex-
perimental and innovative tech-
niques to create a viable
agricultural base in the Negev,
aimed at strengthening its econ-
omy and attracting tourism, in-
dustry and a growing population
\ - to the region.
One of the solutions is a net-
work of recently constructed wa-
ter reservoirs which will catch
water from winter flooding.
They range in capacity from
about a half a million to 2.5 mil-
lion cubic meters each, and ser-
vice the kibbutzim and
moshavim in the area. Accord-
• ing to Asher Ron, from Land De-
• velopment Department of the
Southern Region, the reservoirs
siphon off water from nearby
streams before they head into
the sea, as well as recycled wa-
ter from the Dan region recy-
cling facility. "By the years
2000-2010, there will be no more
fresh water in this region," says
Mr. Ron. "It will all be recycled
\ or brackish water."
/9 With the newly acquired wa-
ter availability, Action Plan
Negev is swinging into phase
two, initiating innovative agri-
cultural efforts involving or-
chards, fish ponds, olive
plantations and hothouses.
Israel's citrus orchards were
originally situated along the
coastal plain, in the country's
• epicenter. With the growing de-
/-• mand for housing in the area,
land was rezoned to service ur-
ban needs and the citrus yield
has decreased. Revitalizing the
ubiquitous Jaffa orange groves
has begun in the Negev where
two major orchard ingredients
exist — available water and con-
centrated tracts of land. Kib-
butzim and moshavim in the
region are cultivating these or-
chards, producing oranges,
pomelos, grapefruit and tanger-
ines for large export companies
such as Tnuport and Mehadrin.
Over the next 10 years, based on
water availability, more citrus
orchards are to be planted.
Central and southern Arava
will be dotted with fish ponds,
usually found only in the center
> and north of Israel. An experi-
mental but economical venture,
given the rising demand for fish
worldwide and in Israel, the cov-
ered fish ponds contain geot-
hermal water at an optimal
temperature for breeding trout
and flounder. "It's warm, brack-
ish water that is comfortable for
fish," says Mr. Ron. "We even
grow olives with the same wa-
ter. We get the sweetest vegeta-
bles with the most saline water."
The ponds are concentrated
in several areas and are usual-
ly surrounded by common in-

INNOVATIONS page R14

tathei.

'BeAl white& Pr a
happy„ healthq
(New (Year.
HARRIET SHUBIN

1.or
hEalthy.
(New (Year.
ELLEN AND LEONARD TAUB

We wish. ourfamity and friends
very healthy, happy arid prosperous New Year.

Beif whit ea for a
happy, health'
(Meta. Wear.
MERLE AND SELMA SILVERMAN
AND FAMILY

Pr a
hap_py, healthy
(New Wear.
NAOMI TRAGER AND FAMILY

We with OUTfatnify and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

I

BOCA RATON, FL

Best astaheA

12.11'311

nalz intr2

MR. AND MRS. MARVIN PERLIN AND FAMILY
AND
MRS. JEAN STOLSKY

inn Mtn

to- all
owyriendci
a n

to- all
ourdei-iends/
and i.e./calves.,

MAMIE AND DAVID PARR

SOL AND CHANNIE ZEILER
AND FAMILY

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL

ELEANOR AND MARTY GARFINKEL

A Very Happy and
Healthy New Year
to All Our
Friends and Family.

1

May the coming

A Very Happy and
Healthy New Year
to All Our
Friends and Family.

'

May the cowlin g
y eah be filled

yeah be filled

with health and
happiness fop.

with health and
happiness fop'

all outp. family
and friends.

PAUL AND SUSAN WEINSTOCK

all my family

and fp.iends.

THE SHUSTERS
JEFFREY, RHONDA, DANNY
AND AMANDA

MIRIAM SLAIM

•m* .'.4 4:1M ISIE:5 7.•,.•:

Vo Cur
aehtires and ciriends;
r wish a- pear
led withhappiness,
kh a- n proerit29.

fir

May the cowling
ye_ap. be filled
with health and
happiness fop.
all outv‘ family

May the comin g
yeap. be filled
with health and
kappiness fop.

GEN AND ED KATZ

all my family
avid friends.

and friends.

LEONARD AND SHIRLEY
SCHULTZ

AVENTURA, FL

C) & Ai Our
aektires and ici‘riends,
ur prickle a- pear
illed with happiness,
lea- kh a7za1 prospe19.

(

ARLENE AND BOB NISKAR
AUDREY AND BRIAN SEIFMAN
JOEY NISKAR AND LORIE ROSENBLATT
HOWARD, TRACEY, JESSICA AND SAMANTHA
NISKAR

R13