A lifeline for Israeli agriculture: an emergency increase of up to 15% in water quotas for 2026 has been approved
Following a severe drought and a dramatic cut of about 90 million cubic meters in national water allocations, the Water Authority Council unanimously approved an emergency measure to supply additional fresh water to farmers. The Director of the Water Authority stated: "A delicate balance that provides oxygen and a safety net for farmers at this time."
The Water Authority Council unanimously approved an increase of up to 15% in the supply of fresh water for agriculture in the national system for 2026. The decision was made in a vote attended by six council members, following a joint effort led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Water Authority.
The goal of the move is to provide an immediate response to farmers who have suffered in the past year from the consequences of a severe drought and a significant cut in their water allocations.
The uncompromising need for additional water arose in light of a deep cut planned in the fresh water allocations for agriculture for 2026. The national allocation was sharply reduced from about 380 million cubic meters in 2025 to only about 290 million cubic meters in 2026. In the area around the Sea of Galilee, the situation proved even more difficult, where a drop in the allocation was recorded from about 92 million cubic meters to only about 60 million cubic meters.
Conclusive evidence of the growing distress on the ground is the more than 300 requests and appeals (more precisely, 308) that were recently submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for urgent water additions, with a total volume of about 35.8 million cubic meters. In parallel, a comprehensive mapping conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture revealed distortions in existing water allocations in the amount of about 16 million cubic meters, which were created, among other things, as a result of transfers, partnerships, new plantings, and the special needs of the Tkuma and Tnufa communities.
Immediate supply and efforts to lower tariffs
The approved addition will be granted to farmers beyond the amount set in each supplier's license, in accordance with the capacity of water sources and infrastructure limitations on the ground. At this stage, the additional supply is defined at the tariff applicable to excess water quantity.
However, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure are not stopping there and continue to jointly examine solutions that will allow at least part of this amount to be supplied at regular tariffs, alongside promoting plans to expand water sources for agriculture in the long term.
"Giving oxygen to farmers"
Yehezkel Lifshitz, Director of the Water Authority, addressed the complex challenges and said that the water sector is dealing with severe climate impacts that require responsible and calculated management. At the same time, Lifshitz emphasized:
"The Water Authority attaches supreme importance to preserving Israeli agriculture, which is a strategic anchor in national food security. The decision to approve the water addition reflects the delicate and necessary balance between preserving water sources and providing oxygen to farmers."
Yuval Lipkin, Head of the Food Security Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture, added that the decision gives farmers the operational flexibility they need after a difficult period of drought and cuts. According to him, the current mechanism encourages the wise use of water, while the ministry continues to work together with the Water Authority to find permanent solutions for farmers for 2026 and for the long term.
