Agricultural exports up sharply

The Central Bureau of Statistics ( CBS) released last week data indicating that the value of exports of agricultural produce rose by 15% over the first four months of 2005 to $500 million, compared to the parallel period last year.
 
Fruit exports were up by 43%. The increase in fruit exports continues the 2004 trend, during which the value of fruit exports, according to the CBS , grew by 30%.
 
Yisrael Katz, Agriculture Minister said last week that The value of agricultural exports in 2004 totaled $909 million. Katz noted that the number of agricultural workers in Israel increased in 2004 by 4,000 people.
 
Katz expressed his hopes to strengthen the agri-export trend with a bill to be introduced later on this year which will amend the law encouraging capital investments in agriculture. If approved, the new law will offer tax incentives to agriculture export-oriented projects. He added that such measures could double Israel's agricultural exports within five to six years.