- Title: Gaza's quail farmers see boost during COVID-19 pandemic
- Date: 2nd November 2020
- Summary: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (OCTOBER 18, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF QUAILS AT FARM QUAIL FARM OWNER, IBRAHIM ABU ODEH, POURING BIRD FOOD INTO FEEDER BIRDS DRINKING VARIOUS OF ABU ODEH CHECKING BIRDS KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (OCTOBER 27, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) QUAIL FARM OWNER, IBRAHIM ABU ODEH, SAYING: "During the corona(virus) pandemic I was able to wisely manage my project and it is successful and flourishing. There is demand on quail so I brought my family and brothers to work with me on the project." KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (OCTOBER 18, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ABU ODEH ORGANIZING BIRDS' EGGS ON TRAYS ABU ODEH PLACING TRAYS INTO INCUBATOR CHICKS WALKING BETWEEN EGGS ABU ODEH HOLDING HATCHLING MOVING OUT OF EGG CHICKS MOVING AROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) QUAIL FARM OWNER, IBRAHIM ABU ODEH, SAYING: "Thank God as I said we have a 1,000 females and 350 male birds and all of them are producing despite the circumstances during the coronavirus (pandemic). We are selling everything we produce, we sell to families." VARIOUS OF MAN CLEANING QAILS' CAGES CUSTOMER LOOKING FOR BIRDS TO BUY BIRDS ON THE GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CUSTOMER LOOKING TO BUY BIRDS FOR HIS FAMILY, MOHAMMAD AL-ASTAL, SAYING: "Amid these circumstances, the siege and the bad economic situation, instead of buying one kilogram of (lamb) meat for 40 shekels ($11.75) I can buy 10 pairs of quail, the 10 pairs of quail will last two weeks but the one kilo of (lamb) meat hardly lasts one week. Also chicken is expensive, today one kilogram costs 11 shekels ($3.23). I can bring three pairs of quail instead for the family." KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (OCTOBER 27, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAN PREPARING, GRILLING QUAILS ON BARBECUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN MAKING BIRDS ON BARBECUE, ABEDALMAJEED AL-DUSUKI, SAYING: "The coronavirus pandemic and the economic situation affect the people, they are unable to buy meat or chicken, so I think quail is very good alternative and it is delicious, very delicious." MAN SERVING GRILLED QUAIL TO DISH MEN SITTING AROUND A TABLE VARIOUS OF MEN HAVING LUNCH VARIOUS OF CAT EATING
- Embargoed: 16th November 2020 11:20
- Keywords: COVID-19 Chicken Coronavirus Farmers Khan Younis Lamb Livestock Meat Quail
- Location: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA
- City: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Middle East,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001D2VJYHH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Carefully placing a tray of freshly-laid eggs into his incubator, Palestinian quail farmer Ibrahim Abu Odeh is catching up with the rising demand for quail meat in the Gaza Strip, where many families are struggling to afford the more traditional lamb or chicken meat.
"During the corona(virus) pandemic I was able to wisely manage my project and it is successful and flourishing", Abu Odeh, 34, told Reuters in his farm in Khan Younis.
The 34 year-old has been breeding birds for five years and unlike many businesses, the global coronavirus pandemic offered him a fresh business opportunity.
Residents of Khan Younis purchase the relatively less expensive bird over traditional staples such as chicken and lamb whose prices increased during the crisis.
One resident from Gaza, Mohammad Al Astal, can now feed his entire family with 10 pairs of quail for two weeks with the price of one kilo of lamb meat.
A pair of quail breeder at the farm costs 4-6 shekels ($1.17- $1.76) while those hunted in the quail fetch 20-25 shekels ($5.85-$7.32) for those hunt in the wild.
In the densely populated coastal strip where poverty is rampant, Abu Odeh said that electricity shortages are among the main obstacles he faces. On average, Gazans get eight hours of electricity a day.
Most families are dependent on foreign aid and struggle to make a living.
Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the territory, declared a lockdown on August 24 after the first cases of coronavirus were reported outside of quarantine zones meant to protect the general population. Since then, there have been 6,500 cases including 34 deaths.
Gaza is home to two million Palestinians in cities, towns and refugee camps squeezed within an area of 360 square km (139 square miles), with its borders sealed off by neighbouring Israel and Egypt.
The lockdown has been eased, but a nightly curfew is still in place.
(Production: Abed Shana, Basam Masoud, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh, Nihad Khalil) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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