It isn't clear if the latest proposal drafted by the Forum of Periphery Farmers is a parody of government efforts to convince itself Israelis can be brought back to farmwork, or if it's a serious plan.

The list of far-reaching incentives recently submitted focuses on working conditions at outlying farms, which usually involve long hours in the heat, with greenhouse temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius.

The forum's advisors professors Yaakov Neeman - a former finance minister - and Ezra Sadan submitted the proposal to Trade Ministry director General Gabi Maimon, deputy Bank of Israel governor Zvi Eckstein and Employment Services director Esther Dominicini.

Haaretz has learned the proposals include state co-investment in improving working conditions, including installing air conditioning in greenhouses where it is feasible, cooling systems, lighting to facilitate nighttime work and equipment to allow working while sitting down. The forum suggested financial incentives for Israelis who come work in farming in outlying areas. The incentives would involve greater Employment Service financing for busing and a 200 percent increase in preferred work grants.

The proposal includes the creation of a joint team including officials from the Bank of Israel, as well as the Finance, Trade and Agriculture ministries, to encourage banking institutions to finance investment in farming. In addition, the plan touts using Chief Scientist grants to support development of mechanization.

Forum leaders believe the plan will push unemployed Israelis to work on outlying farms, and hopefully reduce the agriculture sector's dependence on foreign labor. Nonetheless, the forum is demanding the quick implementation of a cabinet decision allowing an additional 3,000 foreign worker visas for farming.

Forum chair and Ramat Negev council chair Shmulik Reifman says the plan identified and analyzed the key problems in integrating Israelis into the farming workforce. Reifman emphasized that the plan proposes a long-term solution and is not slated as a quick fix. Outlying farms will continue to rely on foreign labor in the short term, he said, adding that the chronic labor shortage is an existential threat for rural settlement which relies on farming.

"Implementing the proposed measures will make it very difficult for agricultural exports from outlying areas to compete in foreign markets," the forum admitted, "but looking at the adjusted weight of other benefits to maintaining agriculture in outlying areas, the balance is undoubtedly positive."