In the face of the Iron Swords War, Israeli agriculture has entered the greatest manpower crisis it has known since the establishment of the state. This is due to the large number of workers recruited for reserve duty, foreign workers who wished to return to their countries of origin, and workers from the Palestinian Authority territories who are under closure. Now, as a solution to the crisis, the IDF is connecting soldiers to aid agriculture.
Head of Ramat Hanegev Regional Council asks the public to purchase Israeli agricultural produce (archive) \\
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, before the Iron Swords War, 29,900 foreign workers worked in agriculture, most of them from Thailand. Since the beginning of the fighting, about 10,000 workers have left for their country of origin, along with about 20,10-30,000 workers from the Palestinian Authority (depending on the season), who are under closure and unable to reach work. In other words, Israeli agriculture is currently short of at least <>,<> workers.
As a solution to the shortage of workers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in cooperation with the IDF's Education Department, connects non-combat soldiers who are not on routine security or other missions with farmers who need assistance. In this framework, assistance to farmers in the field will be for a longer period of time, and thus soldiers will be able to specialize in the required work.
Working to expand the volunteer network, photo: Ministry of Agriculture
As part of the project, about 500 soldiers arrive daily at farmers in the central and southern regions of the country. The Ministry of Agriculture is working to expand the volunteer network, in cooperation with the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions, which will include, inter alia, the National Service System, pre-military preparatory programs, yeshiva students, ulpanim and more.
In the first week of the war, the Ministry published a support procedure for volunteer associations to finance the logistical costs involved in bringing volunteers to agricultural work, including transportation, accommodation and food for volunteers, in order to fill the vacuum created by workers on farms until permanent workers are brought in. On Sunday, the ministry expanded support to nonprofits with no previous experience volunteering in agriculture, alongside 20 nonprofits that already receive the support in question.
Despite the great response of Israeli citizens and the mobilization for assistance, the Ministry of Agriculture notes that a permanent solution is needed, since the rotating volunteers cannot assist in field work that requires training and skill. Therefore, the allocation of soldiers will enable farmers to train them as a more permanent and long-term solution in the field until the shortage of workers is filled. Moreover, in recent days the ministry has published that pre-military preparatory programs have also joined in helping farmers during such a difficult time.
A difficult time for farmers. Kibbutz Be'eri, Photo: PR
In parallel with these solutions, the Ministry is working to immediately absorb permanent workers in agriculture. The government recently approved the entry of 5,000 foreign workers into agriculture. At the same time, the firm continues to provide incentives of thousands of shekels a month for new Israeli employees. The Ministry also financially incentivizes foreign workers who choose to stay and work in the Gaza envelope, and assists in mobilizing foreign workers who wish to stay away from the line of fire while continuing to work.
Oren Lavie, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture: "I am pleased with the fruitful cooperation with the IDF's Education Department to bring such a high-quality and important workforce during a difficult time for Israeli agriculture. Agricultural work is a pillar of the spirit of Zionism, on the basis of which the State of Israel is rooted. Special thanks to the Education Corps from the Manpower Division, without whose assistance and involvement the move would not have come to fruition."
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