The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is publishing a support procedure for capital investments in agriculture, intended to strengthen and develop communities near the Lebanese border and communities in the Western Negev. Within the framework of the procedure, approximately NIS 47 million will be allocated for investments in agricultural infrastructure: water infrastructure, which is of particular importance in light of the drought affecting Israel, as well as agricultural roads. In addition, the procedure includes for the first time investment in infrastructure used for educational activities or for research and development in advanced agriculture. The goal is to strengthen agricultural settlement and support economic growth in these areas, which will help ensure national food security.

In the northern communities, the support stems from the government’s decision on promoting a response for communities adjacent to the fence on the Lebanese border, within a 2 km range from the northern border, and within this framework, NIS 36.5 million will be allocated. Initially, the decision included only rural communities, but it was expanded thanks to the initiative of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, MK Avi Dichter, so that the urban communities of Kiryat Shmona, Shlomi, and Metula, which are close to the border, will also be included in the assistance track. In the Western Negev communities in the south, the support is based on the government’s decision on the rehabilitation and development of communities for the years 2025-2029, and NIS 10 million will be allocated within it.

Oren Lavi, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: “Through investment in agricultural infrastructure, we seek to strengthen the communities on the northern border and in the Western Negev and ensure their continued economic growth and development. After the damage sustained by Israeli agriculture throughout the war, strengthening it is strengthening settlement and its establishment along the borders, and it constitutes an essential step in ensuring the resilience of the agricultural system and Israel’s food security.”
This support is for farmers through local authorities, in order to create significant regional support for agricultural infrastructure to serve as a growth engine and strengthening for communities adjacent to the fence (0-2 km). This is a fast procedure developed by the Ministry for the first time as a modern and rapid support method for action through local authorities. Local authorities are not required to submit an application for eligibility, as the government’s decision has already determined which authorities are eligible. All that is required from the authorities is to submit the projects for support during the first quarter of 2026.

The support is expected to assist communities and local authorities in the North and the Western Negev in establishing and upgrading central agricultural infrastructure. In particular, they focus on developing and upgrading water infrastructure such as main pipelines, storage facilities, and pumps. Investments in water infrastructure are of particular importance in light of the drought affecting Israel. The procedure also supports the establishment and rehabilitation of agricultural roads to improve access to areas, as well as, for the first time, the establishment of regional or community agricultural infrastructure used for educational activities and for research and development in advanced agriculture, such as investments in buildings, technological infrastructure, and accompanying equipment. The Ministry sees this as a significant strengthening of educational and research activities that will encourage the development of knowledge and innovation in agriculture. 

Central Government Call Center

See Full Bio