Horticulture Department

Background

The subject of orchards in Southern Arava R&D occupies an increasingly central position among the research subjects of the R&D. This is derived from the growing economic significance of the orchard industry in the southern Arava. The main branch is dates, and primarily the Medjool variety. Most of the research projects in dates deal with cultivation practices, technological improvements and the development of a general database for all the date growers.

In addition this division of the R&D is involved in the development of the pomegranate orchard industry, focusing on developing early ripening pomegranates, and evergreen pomegranates which ripen off-season.

Goals

• Increasing the profitability of Medjool and other date varieties in the Arava, by increasing yield, improving fruit quality according to consumer demands, and increasing productivity by adopting labor saving technologies.
• Developing, testing, selecting and adopting additional fruit trees suitable for cultivation under the conditions in the Arava.
• Developing and promoting environmentally friendly Integrated Pest Management practices.