The Agricultural Ministry reported today that two-thirds of all field crops have been damaged by Israel’s severe drought with damages estimated at 45,000,000 pounds ($15,000,000).
The Ministry reported also that of the approximately 4,000,000 acres sown this season nearly 2,500,000 had been spoiled by the drought and that all field crops south of Beersheba had been affected. Since such areas were sown at the farmer’s risk, these areas are not eligible for compensation, the Ministry added.
In a breakdown, the Ministry said that wheat losses came to 70 percent of planted areas, barley to 61 percent and hay to 56 percent. Israel will have to import an extra 70,000 tons of wheat, 80,000 tons of barley and 50,000 tons of sorghum at a cost of $15,000,000 to make up for the crop losses.
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