Last week, an agreement was reached between the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and the Water Authority which will result in a 21 cent increase of agricultural water prices, to 2.15 shekels (0.45 Euro) per cubic metre. The new tariff will apply to the agricultural sector and not to the general public.
Representatives of the growers did not take part in the discussion and have shown their opposition to the agreement having been reached without their knowledge. An urgent letter has been sent calling for the cancellation of the planned increase, which is expected to come into force in January 2015.
"We oppose the agreement reached last Thursday between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Water Authority. Growers cannot accept having to pay 2.15 shekels per cubic metre or any other amount above it," wrote the Secretary-General of the Moshav Movement, Meir Tzur, and the Secretary-General of the Kibbutz Movement, Eitan Broshi, as well as the president of the Growers Association.
They claim growers should not have to pay 10 times higher prices than in OECD countries, "imposed by decrees approved arbitrarily that ignore the difficulties faced by growers, including those who have made huge investments in infrastructure."
They also state that the agricultural sector would lose tens of millions of shekels, which would have an impact on the public, since it would lead to a drastic increase in consumer prices and the reduction of agricultural land.