United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for DevelopUnited Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Developmentment Panel on Water and AgriculturePanel on Water and Agriculture
Geneva, Switzerland, December 15th, 2010Geneva, Switzerland, December 15th, 2010
Irrigated Agriculture Irrigated Agriculture –– The Israeli ExperienceThe Israeli Experience
AnatAnat LowengartLowengart--AycicegiAycicegi Extension ServiceExtension Service
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, IsraelMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel
Photo: E. Kenig
Land and water in Israel Land and water in Israel are public assets (are public assets (allocated by quotasallocated by quotas ))
Water and irrigated agriculture Water and irrigated agriculture in a time perspectivein a time perspective
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones 5050’’s s –– mid 60mid 60’’ss
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
-- Enlargement Enlargement and establishment and establishment of water sources of water sources
and irrigated and irrigated agricultureagriculture
• Infrastructure – Legislation and regulation, increased operation of the National Water Company ‘Mekorot’ (established in late 40’s), water conveyance and distribution systems, Public Agricultural R&D and Extension services.
• Fresh water use, mainly by surface irrigation
• Non-traditional farming sector (open to innovations and technology adoption)
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones 5050’’s s –– mid 60mid 60’’ss
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones mid 60mid 60’’s s –– mid 70mid 70’’ss
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
-- Building andBuilding andoperating theoperating the
‘‘National CarrierNational Carrier’’
-- Shifting to more Shifting to more efficient irrigationefficient irrigation
• Infrastructure – ‘National Carrier’, Water conveyance and distribution systems, Agricultural R&D and Extension services.
• Shifting from surface to pressurized irrigation, increasing water use efficiency.
• Development and introduction of metering, automation, filtration and fertilization technologies.
• Mainly fresh water use.
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones Mid 60Mid 60’’s s –– mid 70mid 70’’ss
National Water Carrier (early 60National Water Carrier (early 60’’s)s)
108” Pipeline
- 200
- 150
- 100
-50
0
+50
+10 0
+15 0
+20 0
HaifaNetofa
Tel Aviv
Sea ofGalilee
S N
National Water Carrier: National Water Carrier: 60% of water supply in the 196060% of water supply in the 1960’’ss
“Mekorot”
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones mid 70mid 70’’s s –– late 80late 80’’ss
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
-- Full shift and Full shift and adoption ofadoption ofpressurizedpressurized
irrigation systems irrigation systems
-- Development of Development of auxiliary auxiliary
technologiestechnologies
-- Increased use of Increased use of brackish waterbrackish water
• Agricultural irrigation is fully pressurized, a technological change which led to a country- wide increased water use efficiency.
• Continuation of development and introduction of metering, automation, filtration and fertilization technologies.
• Increased use of brackish water (saline and recycled treated wastewater) .
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones Mid 70Mid 70’’s s –– late 80late 80’’ss
Pressurized irrigation systemsPressurized irrigation systems
Increased water use efficiency from Increased water use efficiency from 40%40%--50% in surface to 80%50% in surface to 80%--95% in 95% in
pressurized irrigationpressurized irrigation
Photo: M. Bruner
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones Late 80Late 80’’s s –– late 00late 00’’ss
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
-- Increased rate of Increased rate of collection, collection,
treatment and use treatment and use of treated of treated
wastewater wastewater
-- ContinuousContinuousdevelopment anddevelopment and
use of monitoring use of monitoring technologiestechnologies
• Consecutive droughts leading to sharp decrease in fresh water allocation for agriculture.
• Hence, increasing rate of collection, treatment and recycling treated wastewater.
• Continuous effort in maintaining productive, yet sustainable irrigated agriculture.
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones Late 80Late 80’’s s –– late 00late 00’’ss
Water for agriculture 1985-2008
Source: Planning Authority, MARD and Water Authority, MIS
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1985
1987 1989
1991
1993 1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007M
illio
n cu
bic
met
ers
of w
ater
Fresh TWW Saline and flood
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones CurrentCurrent
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
-- New national New national regulations for regulations for
unlimited use of unlimited use of recycled treated recycled treated
wastewaterwastewater
-- Introduction of Introduction of desalinated waterdesalinated water
-- Emphasis on Emphasis on sustainable sustainable
technologies technologies as well as as well as
management management
• Increased use of recycled treated wastewater led to formation of national regulations (2010) taking into account human health, agronomic and environmental aspects.
• Introduction of desalinated water into the national water system.
• Scarce water and land resources motivates continuous innovations for more efficient and sustainable water use.
Irrigated Agriculture in Israel Irrigated Agriculture in Israel –– MilestonesMilestones CurrentCurrent
TWW reuseTWW reuse
Water for agriculture 1969-2008
Source: Planning Authority, MARD , Water Authority, MIS and Prof. Kislev, Y. – Review on water resources no. 9705)
Ann
ual w
ater
use
in m
illio
n cu
bic
met
er
Perc
enta
ge o
f bra
ckis
h w
ater
Brackish Fresh % of brackish in total water useesh
Photo: Tarchitzky, Water Aauthority
036 100 130 145 160
280 305405
505
2004200520062007200820092010201120122013
)125 (
)60(
(100)
)120 (
Hadera
Palmachim
Ashdod
Ashkelon
Pre tendering stage/ Financial Agreement
Full production Since 12/05
Construction phase. Production at 10/09
Sorek(100)
Full production Since 9/07
Pre tendering stage
Sea water desalinationSea water desalination
Source: Water AuthorityPhoto: Tarchitzky, Water Authority
Public R&D and Extension servicesPublic R&D and Extension services
Land use (2007)
Source: Planning Authority, MARD
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Field crops
Floriculture
Vegetables
Citrus
Other fruits
Area (%)
Irrigated Non-irrigated
Water use efficiency (production output / water use)
1950-2008
Source: CBS and Planning Authority, MARD
Inde
x
Summary Summary • Irrigated agriculture and agricultural technology
in Israel are part of an integrated chainan integrated chain and not an independent issue.
•• Close contact, participation and cooperation Close contact, participation and cooperation between all stakeholdersbetween all stakeholders allow identifying constrains, solutions, know how adoption and diffusion.
• Current emphasis is on efficient and efficient and economic, yet sustainable managementeconomic, yet sustainable management
• The same technologysame technology can be adopted and diffused in different manners and situationsdifferent manners and situations (drip, for example)
Summary (cont.)Summary (cont.)
• In a perspective of 60 years, water use and irrigated agriculture in Israel is an ongoing process which has been resulted in technological developments, managements and adjustments according to the changing conditions (physical, economical, social and environmental).
Thank youThank you