Page 40 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Palestine

PALESTINE STARTS EXPORTING OLIVE OIL TO ARAB COUNTRIES

Palestine has started exporting olive
oil to a number of Arab countries. Production (tonnes) of some agricultural commodities in
“Over 24 tons of olive oil was export- Palestine (2017-2018)
ed to a number of Arab countries for the
first time,” Adham al-Basyouni, an Agri- Item 2017 Flag 2018 Flag
culture Ministry’s spokesman said
Almonds, with shell 4097 Im 4042 Im
Al-Basyouni added the ministry’s strat-
egy is to enhance the production capac- Apples 877 Im 877 Im
ity of Palestinian farmers and export ol- Apricots 1071 Im 1078 Im
ive oil after achieving self-sufficiency in Avocados 654 Im 677 Im
the produce.
Barley 15528 Im 14961 Im
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Palestin-
ian businessman Hamdi al-Jerjawi said Cabbages and other brassicas 20380 Im 20537 Im
that “990 olive oil tins [15 tons] were ex- Chick peas 1532 Im 1498 Im
ported to Saudi Arabia and 600 olive oil Dates 3508 Im 3508 Im
tins [9 tons] were exported to the United Eggplants (aubergines) 58835 Im 59480 Im
Arab Emirates.”
“This [export] helps the farmers to Figs 2922 Im 2757 Im
compensate for some of their losses and Fruit, fresh nes 6600 Im 6652 Im
contributes to improving their living Grapes 35855 Im 34693 Im
conditions,” al-Jerjawi added.
Lemons and limes 13715 Im 13593 Im
According to figures from the Agricul-
ture Ministry, Palestine produced 14,000 Lentils 323 Im 353 Im
tons of olive oil, including 4,000 tons in Sesame seed 275 Im 272 Im
the Gaza Strip, this year. Sorghum 282 Im 276 Im
* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this re- Sunflower seed 2 Im 3 Im
port from Ankara
Sweet potatoes 2420 Im 2300 Im
Tobacco, unmanufactured 234 Im 227 Im
Tomatoes 221358 Im 223224 Im
Vegetables, fresh nes 10320 Im 9868 Im
Walnuts, with shell 150 Im 148 Im
Watermelons 11823 Im 11901 Im
Wheat 34612 Im 34167 Im
Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology
M: Data not available
Source: FAO Statistical Division 2019
PALESTINIAN The pandemic, said Hebron Chamber being turned into molasses at almost

GRAPE GROWERS of Commerce chairman Nour al-Deen half the value, one fruit merchant told.
Jaradat, “made people look after their
A UN agency has warned that the pan-
lands more, and thus the production
demic was compounding dire economic
SEE MARKET amounts increased, and so did the qual- conditions in the Palestinian territories,
ity. But unfortunately there was a failure
where 2019 unemployment was 33%
COLLAPSE DUE TO in marketing.” and GDP per capita is projected to fall
by 3% to 4.5% this year.
PANDEMIC

Palestinian grape growers expect a
bumper crop this year, helped in part by
the COVID lockdowns that gave many
of them more time to till their vines in
the occupied West Bank. However, the
pandemic’s economic ravages have also
made fruit sales drop. For lack of customers, grapes that pre-
vious sold for around $10 box are now

38 Arab Agriculture 2021

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