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

http://www.tensiograph.com

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