Research FARM

The research farm is the regional agricultural research center. Despite the fact that its main purpose is to conduct regional research on bananas and other subtropical fruit, it is known for its other capabilities and facilities; hence, it serves a much broader agricultural community. The farm is host to broad-based cooperation with institution such as Northern R&D, Volcani Center, and commercial companies.
The center provides knowledge in various research areas, as well as agricultural meteorology. We conduct about 25 studies a year, including those conducted on farm plots. The studies are carried out with an emphasis on precision agriculture and crop optimization.

Goals of the center

  1. Conduct agricultural research while guiding and assimilating the applications in agriculture in subtropical areas.
  2. Develop tools for dealing with crises and adversity in the present and future, such as climate change, quality and availability of water, and soil and plant diseases.
  3. Develop and initiate national and international cooperation.
  4. Create awareness of the importance of agricultural education, and the center’s ability to serve as a foundation for regional educational institutions and academia.
  5. Develop know-how, technology and products of agricultural meteorology in order to increase production capacity and quality of agricultural produce while keeping sustainability and preserving the environment.

Achievements

  • Promotion of banana growing in Israel.
  • Improvement in efficiency of use of water and fertilizers in various crops, such as bananas, mangoes, and avocado.
  • Improvement in dealing with pests and disease.
  • Involvement in regional education and academia, through research conducted on the farm, among other things.

Agricultural research services

Bananas, the Jordan Valley’s main grove crop (in terms of both area and economic contribution), were brought to the region as an agricultural crop soon after the beginning of Jewish settlement, about 100 years ago. A great deal of research and development effort has been required in order to establish suitable agro-technique, to enable successful growth of a plant of tropical origin in our climate. Our unique growing methods were developed by the Regional Center for Agricultural Research in the Jordan Valley (previously: the Jordan Valley experiments committee), which has supported the branch from the beginning. The main areas of research we have pursued over the years are as follows:

  • Preparing the land for planting, and improvement of the soil.
  • Identifying the optimal periods and most suitable methods for planting, thinning out, and directing the blooming.
  • Crop cycles.
  • Irrigation, drainage, soil preservation, and protection from wind.
  • Manuring and fertilizing, and foliar feeding.
  • Protection of flora, control of diseases and pests.
  • Introduction and nurturing of new varieties.
  • Development of the use of plants from tissue culture.

The regional research works in cooperation with Northern R&D, and focuses on the following topics:

  • Use of recycled water.
  • Water conservation and improvement of fruit quality and yield by growing in net houses and other methods.
  • Matching of clones for growing in net houses.
  • Treatment of soil weariness.

In addition, we conduct research on mango and avocado as solutions for issues such as intermittence, improvement of fruit size distribution to achieve optimal gap, different varieties to enable continuity of fruit marketing; adaption of cannas and varieties to the region, new agricultural technologies, and more.

In addition, the research farm provides agricultural research services for different areas in the independent sector. We are equipped with lysimeter systems, controlled greenhouses, growing areas, and agricultural monitoring and sensing equipment.