Agricultural exports from Israel have fallen by almost a quarter on last year, with citrus among the products heavily hit.
The total value of agricultural products in the first quarter of 2009 was $381 million (£329.6m), down from $486m for the same period in 2008, according to Ari Goren of Israeli producer UMS Trade.
Citrus lines were some of the hardest hit, with turnover down to $59m in the first quarter of 2009.
The fruit sector was the country's third-largest export branch in the first quarter of 2009 with a turnover of $92m - a fall of nine per cent.
There was a decline of 21 per cent in the total turnover of agricultural export products compared to the same period in 2008.
The flower sector saw the biggest fall with a drop of 47 per cent, equating to $76m compared to $94m last year.
Vegetables and field crops fared comparatively well, with a 19 per cent fall from $200m to $185m.
