Farmers’ group: Jordan’s suspension of tomato, cucumber exports shows risk of relying on imported food

Farmers’ representatives warn that Jordan’s decision to halt all exports of tomatoes and cucumbers for 10 days to ensure its own supply shows that Israel’s food security cannot depend on imports.

Amit Yifrach, chairman of the Israel Farmers’ Federation and secretary general of the Moshav Movement, and Uri Dorman, secretary general of the Israel Farmers’ Federation, say, “Jordan’s decision illustrates a simple truth: a responsible country prioritizes the food security of its own citizens.”

In a statement, they add, “Food security begins with strong local agriculture. The entire world understands that in times of emergency, every country looks out for itself. Therefore, the State of Israel must not base its food security on imports and foreign nations.”

The Finance Ministry has long seen imports as a way of bringing down the cost of living.

Most recently, it has been pushing for a dairy reform, part of which would involve abolishing tariffs of up to 40% to flood the Israeli market with imported dairy products.

Following mass protests led by farmers, and opposition from within the governing coalition’s Likud party, the dairy reform was removed from a key budget-related bill yesterday.

The Agriculture Ministry’s director general, Oren Lavi, says regarding the suspension, “Jordan understands very well the need for national food security for its citizens. The food security plan we have formulated for the population in Israel also embodies the ministry’s commitment to the food security of Israel’s citizens—in times of peace, and even more so in times of emergency — and highlights the acute need to maintain stable local production.

He adds, quoting a Jewish adage, “The expression ‘your city’s poor come first’ has never held more significance.”