This morning (Sunday), another situation assessment was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, headed by the Minister of Agriculture and FOOD SECURITY, MK Avi Dichter, and the Director-General of the Ministry, Oren Lavie, with the participation of the Ministry’s management and professional staff. The agricultural sectors are defined as an “essential industry,” and the Ministry is working to ensure the continuity of production and supply chains for the public.
From the situation assessment, it emerged that in the local production sector, work at slaughterhouses and butcher shops is continuing as usual. Milk collection from dairies is being carried out continuously, as is egg marketing. The Ministry’s veterinary services handled an incident of harm to a sheep flock in the Kafr Qasim area, in which approximately 30 sheep were killed, and continue to evacuate the animals.
In the export and import sector, the seaports of Ashdod and Haifa continue to operate as usual, and sea import and export services are being provided. The Ministry is working with the Port of Haifa to expedite the unloading of a ship at the port, and is also working with the Ministry of Transportation to ensure export continuity, and with exporters to find transportation solutions. Ministry inspectors continue to provide full inspection services for imports and exports, and are prepared to release goods as needed. The passage of goods to and from the Palestinian Authority will continue to be closed at this stage.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s situation room is operating in an emergency mode, centralizing the situation picture and providing responses to issues arising from the field. The Ministry will continue to act proactively and conduct situation assessments according to developments.