Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., October 03, 2008 Tishrei 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:18 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Financial crunch hurting farmers By Amiram Cohen Israel's agricultural sector produces NIS 23 billion a year and exports NIS 8 billion. It supports about 100,000 families who are losing sleep as the financial tsunami breaks over the global markets. "All the kibbutz industries are based on exports," says Itzik Bader, chairman of the Granot Coastal Plain corporation. The shekel has been one of the strongest currencies in the world, holding up against the euro, dollar and pound the currencies in which Israel's produce exporters are paid. "It isn't that the English won't buy our persimmons or avocados," Bader says. They will, but the Israeli farmers will earn fewer shekels per fruit. Advertisement Israel's produce exporters can't reduce exposure to the euro, and then comes the state and raises the price of water for farmers, Bader adds. The main problem is with niche products, qualifies Yossi Yishai, Planning Authority manger at the Agriculture Ministry. "Commodities like potatoes, carrots and peanuts aren't subject to flexible demand." Fruit is also rigid, on the supply side, he explained: The tree is there, the orchard and the greenhouse are there and the fruit has to be exported. But Israeli niche products such as different-colored peppers or herbs could be hurt. So could the export of flowers. They are easier to give up when you're out of money." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Rise in anti-Semitism ADL warns financial crisis is causing upsurge in anti-Jewish activity on the internet. Bubbes for Obama Comedian posts video calling on Jews to lobby Florida grandparents to vote Obama.

Read & React Ex-U.S. weapons hunter: Iran 2-5 years from bomb Responses: 112 Iran supreme leader: Israel is on a path to destruction Responses: 98 IDF commander: Rightist violence encouraged by settler leaders Responses: 48 Aluf Benn: Israel has become a schizophrenic state Responses: 44 More Headlines 01:39 ADL: Financial crisis sparking upsurge in anti-Semitism on internet 01:26 Deri: Court punishing my supporters by barring me from Jerusalem vote 22:03 Iran official: We may halt enrichment for nuclear fuel guarantees 21:45 Pakistan President gets fatwa for 'flirting' with Sarah Palin 00:53 VIDEO / Comic tells U.S. Jews to make sure their bubbes vote Obama 22:21 From The Fringe, Post II / Israel and modern-day slavery 13:30 NEW ON HAARETZ.COM / Play the news: Build your own Israeli government 22:21 TASE suffers sharp losses as Senate okays $700b bailout 18:50 Man charged with raping mentally disabled girl, infecting her with AIDS 17:49 Top IDF general: Don't be fooled by the quiet in the North 01:43 Olmert refuses to respond to questions on Rishon Tours affair 12:09 Report: Israel believes Syria renewing its nuclear activity 13:09 Rightist MK: Attack on leftist prof. being used as excuse to sully settlers 20:59 Lake Kinneret drops to lowest ever recorded water level 10:26 VIDEO / Israeli, Palestinian women come together to lose weight Previous Editions Select Day 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 29 sep 28 sep 26 sep 25 sep 24 sep 23 sep 22 sep 21 sep 19 sep

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