Israeli farmers have started using an automatic planting system, which enables planting of between 5,000 and 7,000 vegetable and flower plants per hour in open fields or in greenhouses.

The system, developed in Japan and adapted to Israel’s specific requirements, is operated by one person, thus making huge savings for the farmer. In contrast, a skilled worker plants 6,000 plants in a full days work.

The planter can be adjusted to plant lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, scallion, herbs and flower plants, among others and can be used either as an independent tool or mounted on a tractor.

Manny Shadmy, marketing manager of Hish-Shtil, Israel’s largest nursery, said that the automatic planter provides the farmer with such advantages as determining the planting space, width of soil-bedding, and depth of planting. “In view of the high quality of the planting, harvesting can be done at one operation, which adds to the farmers’ savings,” he added.

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