Exports and costs were up across Israel’s agricultural sector at the end of last year, according to recent reports.
The country’s Central Bureau of Statistics announced net agricultural product grew to NIS 6.9 billion (£860million) in 2005.
Agricultural output grew 6 per cent in 2005 to NIS 19.6 billion (£2.3m), while costs rose 4.4 per cent to NIS 12.7 billion (£1.58).
According to the Bureau, vegetables and potatoes accounted for 23 per cent of total agricultural output; greens and other field crops accounted for 7 per cent; citrus fruits 14 per cent; flowers and decorative plants were 8 per cent and miscellaneous agricultural products 8 per cent as well.
Agricultural exports grew by 10.1 per cent in 2005 - lower than the previous year’s 31.8 per cent surge - as the prices paid on exported produce fell by 1.7 per cent.
Citrus exports in 2005 were up 28 per cent, primarily due to a shortage of citrus fruits in the US caused by last year’s hurricanes.
While date exports grew by 26 per cent, the amount of pomegranates exported more than tripled, to 1,400 tonnes in 2005 from 400t in 2004.
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