FARMERS' FEDERATION OF ISRAEL

FARMERS' FEDERATION OF ISRAEL (Hitaḥadut ha-Ikkarim be-Yisrael), an association of private farmers in Israel. It grew out of the Union of Moshavot in Judea and Samaria, which was founded in 1920 with a membership of seven villages. The Federation is concerned with the professional, economic, cultural and social problems of its members and represents them vis-à-vis government agencies on marketing, taxation, transportation, and similar questions. By 1970 it had local branches in the form of agricultural committees or cooperatives in 42 villages, and members in some 60 other villages were assisted through its institutions; its total membership was over 8,000 families. The Federation worked through 14 associations for specific branches of agriculture and a number of affiliated companies, including mortgage and benefit funds, and companies for supply, marketing, and transportation. Also affiliated were 80 agricultural, 10 citrus-growing, and 11 transportation cooperatives, the Pardess citrus-growers' syndicate and the wine-growers' association of Rishon le-Zion and Zikhron Ya'akov. The Federation maintained an agricultural secondary school at Pardes Ḥannah and supported youth and sports clubs. It was among the founders of Kuppat Ḥolim Ammamit (People's Sick Fund; now Kuppat Ḥolim Me'uḥedet) which provides medical care for its members. It took the initiative in expanding a number of older moshavot through the absorption of new settlers and assisted in founding several new moshavim.

bibliography:

Bustenai (weekly, 1929–39); Ikkarei Yisrael (monthly, 1959– ); Ikkarei Yisrael-Sefer ha-Shanah (Yearbook, 1950– ).

[Gedalyah Elkoshi]