| Definitions, Explanations and Sources |
| Sales of Agricultural Products (Tables 1-2) |
This is a monthly series of data, which includes only finished domestic produce (excluding transfers
from Judea and Samaria and the Gaza area) (i.e., after growing, picking, sorting and packing) for the
surveyed month, which was concentrated for the following markets: the domestic market, export and
manufacturing. |
| The data include produce sold (marketed) through the following marketing and collecting bodies: |
| 1. | Production boards |
| 2. | Agricultural organizations |
| 3. | Vegetable and fruit wholesalers |
| 4. | Exporters |
| 5. | Industrial establishments and slaughterhouses |
|
| In some cases (e.g., cotton), data refer to produce stored prior to marketing. |
The series does not include produce that is not marketed through these bodies, e.g., private sales, nor
does it include consumption or intermediate produce. In 2001, domestic agricultural produce
accounted for about 74% of the total value of agricultural output. |
| The Value of Produce |
The value of produce is computed according to prices estimated at the point where the produce is
released from the agriculture industry activity (the stage where the produce is conveyed to
manufacturing - upon entry to the enterprises, to local marketing - when entering the wholesale
market, or to export - with transfer to the ports) enduring the surveyed month (at current prices). The
annual summary of the value is calculated by adjusting monthly values to the annual average,
according to the Consumer Price Index. |
| It should be pointed out: |
| 1. | The field crops group includes only: wheat, cotton, groundnuts, maize and peas. These crops
are the bulk (about 70 percent) of the quantity (in tonnage) and value (in NIS) of the field crops
group. |
| 2. | Data on cattle, sheep, and goats (in tons) are estimated according to the number of heads
slaughtered at slaughterhouses. The weight is estimated for each type of cattle by groups. |
|
| Exports of Agricultural Produce (Table 3) |
The data in this series refer to the actual month of export, which in certain cases may be later than the
month in which the produce was collected. Consequently, there may be discrepancies between the
data on produce collected for export and the data series on actual exports. |
| Price Index of Inputs in Agriculture (Table 4) |
| 1. | The indices measure the influence of price changes on the income from agricultural products,
and on the expenditure for products, materials and services used for producing agricultural
output. |
| 2. | The agriculture industry is defined according to major division "Agriculture, Forestry and
Fishing" in the Standard Classification of All Economic Activities. |
| According to this definition, the agriculture industry includes farms engaged in agricultural
production, e.g., field crops and vegetables, animal husbandry and fruit plantations, offshore
fishing and pond fisheries as well as enterprises which supply services solely to the agriculture
industry, such as fruit packing, spraying, and preparation of seed. |
| 3. | The input "baskets", whose prices have been measured since January 2001, represent the
expenditure components of the agriculture in the base period of the index, which is:
2000 = 100.0. |
| 4. | For full details on the definitions of indices, their principles and methods of compilation - see
Input and Output Price indices in the Agricultural Branch, Technical Publication No. 58,
Jerusalem 1991. |
|
| Average Consumer Prices (Table 5) |
Average prices are published for a variety of selected products. These prices are based on actual sums
charged in every transaction, and are obtained from a sample of reporters. |
Average prices include taxes, discounts, and various duties. By law, no Value Added Tax is charged
for fresh fruits and vegetables. |
Unlike price indices, average prices do not include changes in terms of payment and credit
arrangements, and they reflect possible changes in the composition of reporters. For these reasons,
average prices cannot be used as a basis for calculating percentages of change between different
periods. |
| Average prices are intended to serve only as an indicator of price ranges during a given period. |
