G/AG/GEN/160/Add.1  
 
17 March 2021  
(21-2218) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
AD HOC REPORT ON COVID -19 MEASURES TAKEN BY ISRAEL  
IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR  
SUBMISSION BY ISRAEL  
Addendum  
The following submission, dated 17 March 2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Israel.  
 
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This ad hoc report covers measures adopted by Israel in relation to the  Covid -19 as of March 2021.  
 
1.1.  The government of Israel issued various restrictions on commercial activities in order to reduce 
the infection and the virus spread. Agric ultural production and related services have been excluded 
from these regulations. Similarly, governmental services in farms and ports of entry, such as plant 
protection and veterinary inspections, have continued, even though teleworking and focusing on 
urgent work were encouraged.  
1.2.  An additional water quota of 71 million m3 was authorised for agriculture, so that local food 
production could guarantee adequate food supplies during the crisis.  
1.3.  Due to the spread of the epidemic, the entry of foreign workers and Palestinian workers into 
the State of Israel has been restricted. Therefore, expired work visas for existing foreign workers 
have been extended. A special mobility procedure allows a worker to move for a short period of less 
than one month to a nother farm. This flexibility was introduced as some industries, such as 
the flower sector, reduced their activity significantly while other industries greatly increased their 
need for workers, due to unavailable workers or increased consumer demand.  
1.4.  A special fund of 6 million ILS was granted to support logistic expenses of public institutions 
recruiting volunteers to replace absent agricultural workers. Furthermore, 12 million ILS were 
allocated to fund non -profit organisations that coordinated the engag ement of volunteers during 
the first COVID -19 wave ( 18 March – 30 June). A significant increase in volunteers in agriculture 
was recorded during the crisis. In particular, about 12,000 volunteers participated in 
87,000  workdays on farms during the first CO VID-19 wave.  
1.5.  The outbreak of the epidemic and the isolation guidelines have accelerated the launching of 
e-commerce platforms, under the auspices of MARD and the Innovation Authority.  
1.6.  To improve food resilience and for contending with the economic effects on farmers associated 
with COVID -19, an Acceleration Plan is being developed. It includes R&D funding, investments in 
precision agriculture and yield improvement technologies, vertical agriculture, building of central 
and regional markets, the development of digital trade arena, infrastructure improvements in 
peripheral villages, soil betterment in the Arava region, agricultural water networks rehabilitation in 
villages, converting rainfed into irrigated areas, and building regional reservoirs for catching 
marginal water.  G/AG/GEN/160/Add.1  
 
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  1.7.  During the lockdown period, MARD conducted daily inventories of fresh agricultural produce, 
to identify missing items and facilitate their importation when needed. In particular, shortage of 
some basic consumer products, such as eggs and ce rtain preserved goods was observed during 
March–April 2020. As a response, incentives were put in place to encourage importers to import 
these products as quickly as possible. For example, voluntary zero -tariff rate quotas for all 
WTO Members were increase d to import onions, cucumbers and eggs. The Plant Protection and 
Inspection Services and the Veterinary and Animal Health Services have also facilitated imports by 
accepting copies of the original phytosanitary or health certificates under certain conditio ns. 
1.8.  An aid package was developed for agriculture activities affected by export constraints and for 
niche products for the local market. These include fresh produce affected by declining air transport, 
produce affected by the closing of the Flower and Plant  Auction in the Netherlands, and by 
cancellation of orders. The aid is provided for crops sold fresh, and is calculated so that growers that 
were hit the hardest will receive a higher rate of assistance. The total aid should not exceed 
600,000  ILS.  
 
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