The Kanat Insurance Fund for Natural Risks in Agriculture estimates that farmers throughout Israel will receive more than an aggregate NIS 50 million in compensation for damages caused by the storm in recent days. Kanat CEO David Ginzburg said that most of the damage was to crops and infrastructure in the central and northern regions. 600 cases of damage from the stormy weather have already been reported, and Kanat predicts that the number of reports will increase in the coming days. "The estimate is only preliminary; the exact extent of the damage will become clear only after several days," Ginzburg said.
Figures provided by Kanat indicate that most of the damage was caused by the strong winds, which affected thousands of acres of avocado and citrus crops, mostly in the central region. In many cases, growers reported that the strong winds had torn fruit from the trees. Damage was also caused to hothouse crops when the plastic coverings were torn off, or when the hothouses were flooded. Reports reaching Kanat show that banana crops in the Carmel coastal area and hothouses for growing flowers, spices, and vegetables were damaged. Field crops in the south were damaged by hailstones.
Moshavim movement economics department chairman Peleg Orion said that the damage caused during the storm was exceptional in comparison with rainstorms in previous winters. "The strong winds caused damage during the first part of the storm, and cold and snow in the second part, the extent of which can be estimated only in the coming days. In certain areas, the damage to crops was critical," he stated.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 11, 2015
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