Gov’t to Help Small Farmers Market Produce Abroad

Israeli farmers have often complained that they are unable to compete in foreign markets, and as a result the Agriculture Ministry will be supplying them with tools to market their produce in an organized manner in foreign markets. The Ministry said that it would allocate NIS 10 million to this effort, aimed at increasing revenues for farmers on products they export.

The Ministry stressed that the money would not be allocated for subsidies, but rather be used to help in marketing efforts. With the funds, the Ministry said, farmers will be in a stronger position to negotiate better deals for themselves. In addition, part of the money will be used to help farmers to develop new crops that are in greater demand abroad.

The new effort will in effect create a new organization that will negotiate with distributors abroad on behalf of farmers. The organization will provide smaller farmers with marketing capabilities that until now were available only to larger farmers and exporters, the Ministry said.