I have been growing vegetables on Moshav Ein Yahav in the Arava since 1992; in the beginning I grew a wide variety of different types of vegetables on the farm. During the past fifteen years I focused on growing one crop – peppers. During most of these years I managed 120 dunams of land, working with a large workforce (about 20 workers). The method I employed involved appointing sub-managers and delegating responsibility, motivating the workers with bonuses for outstanding employees, and creating a feeling of belonging, pride and team spirit on the farm. I established a joint packing house together with a fellow farmer, which handled 2000 tons of peppers for export. The packing house was one of the first in the Arava to implement the ISO 9002 rules, as well as English standards for work procedures in food plants. I am one of the founders of the export company Edom, which created a three-way partnership between farmers, marketers and English פנליסים who receive the produce and distribute it to the chains. Marketing is safer, as 60% of the produce is sold according to a minimum price plan, thereby reducing exposure to market fluctuation and creating strong ties with the end client. I was a member of the Edom directorate for the first five years after the company was founded, and was a partner in establishment of the joint packing house and logistical center of the company. For the first three years I was the chairman of the packing house board (responsible for selecting and training directors, designation and implementation of policies of quality, efficiency and relationships with buyers). I was a member of the Ein Yahav board for four years. I was a member of the board of the marketing association of the Yofi Shel Yeerkot Company for eight years, during four of which I served as the association's chair. During this time we made significant changes in the association's structure and functioning, and we are currently considered the largest marketing association in the country, marketing a large range of products throughout the year. For the past two years I have been the managing director of the Northern and Central Arava Research and Development Unit. I am a true Arava patriot, and I believe that in the coming years we will need to concentrate our best efforts on finding alternative types of employment for the region's residents in order to increase the population (while at the same time not neglecting development both of new techniques for growing crops, as well as development of new varieties).