About us
Ramat HaNegev Regional Council is the rural, regional municipality located in the Negev Highlands starting roughly 20 minutes south of Beersheva, spread out across 22% of Israel's geographical area. Our 8000 + residents live in 15 varied communities,24 family farms, a National At-Risk Youth project, and a National Drug Rehabilitation project. We take pride in our advanced desert agriculture, innovative educational initiatives, world-renowned water research, solar energy farms, and endless outdoor activities. Ramat HaNegev Regional Council operates in the spirit of David Ben-Gurion's vision and of Israel's national missions to populating, developing, and preserving the Negev.
Ramat HaNegev is a mosaic of Israeli society. Our beautiful residents are true pioneers. Together, we live in varied communities such as kibbutzim, moshavim, secular villages, religious villages, one air force base, two nonprofit social initiatives, and 24 family farms. We strive to create an open and pluralistic atmosphere for our residents and work to create an incredible community.
Ramat HaNegev has become a renewable energy leader producing 45% of all Israeli renewable energy products to better our world. The state of the art renewable energy enterprise includes three major solar energy plants near the community of Ashalim.
In the region, we are home to the Ben Gurion University Sde Boker. This campus is home to the National Solar research Center, Water Conservation Center, Zionism, Israel Studies Research Center, and Desert Agriculture Center, genuinely creating an "Oxford in the Negev" as Ben Gurion foresaw.
Here in Ramat HaNegev we are known for our advanced Desert Agriculture technologies and systems. The Ramat HaNegev R&D Agro Center gives services and mentorship to our local farmers and international students. 80% of the Israeli cherry tomatoes market comes from our communities in the Nitzana cluster. Our farmers' innovative spirit led them to new initiatives and success. In our region, farmers are growing a wide variety of produce from olive oil, blueberries, mushrooms, wine, Asian greens, strawberries, pineapples, and much much more.
Our home here in Ramat HaNegev is known as the "Har HaNegev" or the Negev highlands and is a beautiful landscape that many visitors from across the world and Israel come to visit. You can visit local farms on the "Wine Route" and enjoy an inspiring tour of the ancient Nabataean ruins at local National Parks of Shivta, Nitzana, or Avdat. You can find all sorts of attractions from hiking, biking, jeep tours, and even sandboarding. You have a wide choice of accommodations at one of our many local B&B or lodges or even at the brand new "Kedma" hotel at Kibbutz Sde Boker.
Today, Ramat HaNegev, and the entire Negev, plays a historic role in shaping the State of Israel's future makeup. The Negev, which is 60% of Israel's territory, only 8% of its population lives here. The Negev must be a worthy alternative to the growing "crowded" Israeli state, which in 2048, on Israel's' 100th birthday, expects to exceed a population of 15 million people.
Together we are fulfilling David Ben Gurion's dream, and we are dedicated to preserve, develop, and populate our home here in Ramat HaNegev for today and tomorrow.
Learn more with us, get engaged, and together we will build a strong, bright, healthy future for us all.