Ministry of Agriculture director general Yossi Yishai said that he will advise the government to declare this week's winter storm a natural disaster, in view of the massive damage to crops and extensive flooding of farmland. Such a declaration would ensure compensation to farmers for damage from the storm.
Yishai made the announcement after touring locations hit by the storm together with Kanat Insurance Fund for Natural Risks in Agriculture CEO David Ginsburg. After the tour, Yishai ordered ministry officials to draw up recommendations for the government
The Ministry of Agriculture said that most of the crop damage would be eligible for expedited compensation by insurance companies. However, it added that farmers whose infrastructures were damaged will only receive compensation if the government accepts the ministry's recommendation to declare the storm a natural disaster.
The Ministry of Agriculture does not yet know the extent of the crop damage nationwide, and it has been sending assessors to the fields to evaluate it. The ministry said today that the assessment will take several weeks, due to the number of areas from which reports have been received about damage.
Earlier today, Farmers Association general manager Avshalom Vilan called for this week's storm to be declared a natural disaster, even during an election campaign. "The damage to farmers who are not covered by insurance companies is liable to affect the marketing of produce and boost prices, which no one wants," he said.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 10, 2013
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