In Drought-Stricken Israel, Farmers Take Matters Into Their Own Hands

Be'er Sheva, one of Israel's largest cities with a population of approximately 200,000, is located in the country's Negev Desert in the southern portion of the country. The entire Negev region, which is located just to the east of the Sahara Desert, is extremely arid, with parts of the desert receiving just over an inch of rain per year.

The lack of rain has only worsened in recent years, as Israel has experienced its worst water shortage on record. Seven consecutive years of drought, coupled with increased demand from a growing population, have led to the over exploitation of the country's water supply. In fact, water shortages have long been a serious problem for much of the region. While five percent of the world's population resides in the Middle East and North Africa, the region has less than one percent of the world's available water supply. As a result, the people of Israel and other nearby countries have long sought innovative ways to use every available drop of water.