TEL AVIV: Israel has turned arid land into productive farmland through tight state control of water and heavy use of technology, according to a report that comes as warnings of a “super El Niño” raise fears of drought elsewhere. More than 60 percent of the country is covered by the Negev, Judean, Arava and Zin deserts.
By law, the state owns all water resources, and drilling wells without permission is a crime. The report says a “water police” enforces the rules and that farmers who use less than their quota earn water credits redeemable for cash. About 86 percent of household wastewater is treated and reused for irrigation, and seawater is desalinated by reverse osmosis. Dual-flush toilets are mandatory, and schools teach water saving. The report also says the army’s cyber unit, Unit 8200, guards water plants against hacking.
Fish are raised in the desert using warm, mildly saline groundwater pumped from hundreds of metres underground. Tilapia, sea bass, barramundi and some shrimp are kept in oxygenated tanks, with the water recycled. The nutrient-rich wastewater then fertilises olive groves. Shrimp are mostly exported because domestic demand is low.
Israel is also a major exporter of Medjool dates, grown in the desert. The report credits Israeli firms with developing low-water cherry tomatoes, a long-life capsicum and a super-sweet pepper. Growers favour olives over water-intensive palm oil, use mostly recycled water for irrigation, and export soil-free desert roses to Europe.
In the Negev, sensor-controlled irrigation supports vineyards. The report says the region has more than 60 wineries producing over one million bottles a year.