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Last update - 02:37 20/05/2008 Water shortages doom fruit orchards in Israel; prices expected to soar By Amiram Cohen, TheMarker Tags: Water Shortage, Economy  Fruit growers are being forced to destroy 60,000 dunams of fruit and citrus groves - about 10% of all fruit groves in Israel irrigated with potable water - because water allocations have been slashed by 40 million cubic meters, according to Ilan Eshel, director of the Organization of Fruit Growers in Israel. According to the organization calculations, the sector's annual output could drop by 150,000 tons, and farmers revenues from the sale of fruit are likely to be hit by NIS 100 million annually. Consumers will feel the ramifications in the cost of fruits in 2009, when they rise by 35% to 50%, and for some fruits, 100%. T Advertisement he orchards that are expected to be hardest hit are those irrigated with potable water. These include apples, pears, cherries, mango, figs, loquats, lychees and bananas which are cultivated in orchards in the Jordan Valley. Such fruits are grown for the most part in the Upper Galilee, Golan Heights and northern valleys, areas where there is almost no treated waste water or other alternatives for watering orchards. Eshel says that the orchards, particularly citrus orchards in areas where there has been a gradual change over to treated waste water for irrigation, will not be hit as hard. The Fruit Growers Organization has demanded compensation from the agriculture ministry of NIS 3.50 for every cubic meter of water allocation cut, a total of NIS 120 million. Eshel says that the compensation will enable fruit growers to cooperate with the government in its water budgeting plans. "If there is no decision to compensate," Eshel threatens, "we could find ourselves in a position where no one wants to be. Farmers will be forced to fight for their livelihood, and the water cuts will be executable only by physical force." Eshel called on the treasury to recognize its own responsibility for the condition of the water economy, following delays in construction of water purification plants and conduits for delivery of treated waste water for irrigation purposes. "As long as the treasury continues to drag its feet in discussions over compensation and clear decisions are not reached, fruit growers will continue to use water to irrigate groves that may soon be uprooted" Eshel said. Fruit prices are one of the factors behind the soaring consumer price index. Lemons for instance have risen by roughly 50% in a matter of months. Related articles: Israel faces 350 million cubic meter shortage in water supply Water Authority chief: Kinneret level will drop below 'black line' by the end of the year Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Colombian Entebbe' Israelis contributed to the dramatic Colombia rescue of 15 hostages. Handshake controversy Iraqi MPs voice their rage at President Talabani for shaking the hand of Ehud Barak.   1.   Call America and tell them you need money 03:26  |  saul 20/05/08   2.   Don`t export 04:10  |  Shai 20/05/08   3.   It is caused by the godless commie Al Gore 04:59  |  Mark Lincoln 20/05/08   4.   Should be observing Shemmita 07:33  |  Binyamin Dissen 20/05/08   5.   Higher Fruit Prices. 08:24  |  HAL 20/05/08   6.   Cut all agricultural water delivery to Gaza parasites! 09:38  |  Dr. L. Brnd 20/05/08   7.   Rather Export Biodiesel 08:56  |  Evn Perach 05/07/08

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