ISRAEL 
HIGH-TECH & INVESTMENT REPORT

from the September 2004 issue


Disease-Resistant Tomato Seeds for Egypt



Israel is assisting Egypt's agricultural development. Zeraim Gedera will supply tomato seeds to Egypt for $1.5 million, including a number of strains that are resistant to a disease that has severely affected Egyptian tomato fields. Additional shipments are likely. Under an agreement signed with an Egyptian company specializing in agricultural input marketing, Zeraim Gedera will market strains resistant to the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV)

Zeraim Gedera marketing manager Amnon Eshet said that the virus attacks tomato plants, causing heavy damage, up to total loss of the crop. The virus has almost totally destroyed almost all Egypt's tomato fields in the vicinity of Alexandria, near the Nile delta. Most of Egypt's tomato crop is designate for the domestic market.

The seeds ordered by Egypt, are part of an Egyptian government effort among farmers to develop Egyptian crops, and develop and transport water in canals from the Nile to adjacent desert regions, in order to grow vegetables for local consumption.

Eshet added that Zeraim Gedera had previously sold mostly melon seeds to Egypt, but had extended its exports in this market to tomatoes and peppers, as well. Egypt is one of the largest melon exporters in the Middle East, with most of its produce designated for the British market.

Reprinted from the Israel High-Tech & Investment Report September 2004

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