On October 7, Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack caused death and destruction across Israel’s agricultural settlements near the Gaza Strip. Agriculture and the agricultural industry are the beating heart of these settlements, known collectively as Israel’s vegetable basket. The costs of rebuilding and rehabilitation are enormous. The Hamas attacks have resulted in 500 million dollars in lost income for these agricultural communities, with an impact on 30 thousand hectares of agricultural land. Additionally, there is a lack of skilled labor since most of the experienced foreign agricultural workers have left. Other crises that must be addressed are the compacted soils due to the travel of heavy machinery that will, eventually, reduce fertility. Irrigation infrastructures are damaged and, in some places, destroyed. There is also damage to existing research in the area. The regional Research and Development Center (Mop Darom) is currently in a closed military area, and we cannot access the experiments we had established there. Also, many research programs will not be able to be implemented there in the near future.
Our institute is also facing serious challenges; from approximately 100 graduate students, nearly 50 have left. In addition, many students have been called up for military duty. Fortunately, the situation is starting to stabilize, and students who left are starting to return. We hope that the semester will begin at the end of December.
This complex situation is threatening the very existence of agriculture and agricultural research in the region. But of course, we will not surrender, and we vow to create new opportunities. As part of the rehabilitation of the area, we must implement the following strategies: Automation and robotics can help address the labor shortage, with even greater efficiency. The concept of precision agriculture that uses artificial intelligence tools must play a significant role in the region’s agricultural future. We have the opportunity to educate new farmers who will then come to the region with the vast knowledge they gained at the university and the development centers. The whole issue of climate resilience and sustainability, about which we have a great deal of knowledge, must be part of the area’s restoration plans.
In conclusion, I am very optimistic, but to succeed, the country's decision-makers, along with the industrial and private sector, will have to invest significant resources so that we can rehabilitate and renew this disaster-stricken area.
Our hearts go out to the families of the hostages, and we wish them a speedy return home. To all the members of the community who are serving in the army and their families, take care of yourselves and return safely to us.
פלטפורמת שיווק
