- Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian dates to rival Israeli products in West Bank
- Date: 25th August 2009
- Summary: JERICHO, WEST BANK (RECENT) (REUTERS) PALM TREES IN THE CENTRE OF THE WEST BANK CITY OF JERICHO CENTRE OF JERICHO, PALM TREE VARIOUS OF PALM TREES IN A FARM VARIOUS OF YOUTH CLIMBING PALM TREE AND PICKING DATES CLOSE OF PALM WRAPPED WITH A BLACK NET FARMERS HELPING THE YOUTH TO PICK DATES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FARMER, IBRAHIM DAIK, SAYING: "This year, as the production comes with the start of Ramadan; this will help the consumer. I hope it will bring dividends for the farmer and the consumer." MAN CLIMBING PALM TREE VARIOUS OF MAN PICKING DATES CLOSE OF BUNCH OF DATES ON TREE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE JERICHO AGRICULTURE AND VALLEYS, AHMED AL FARES, SAYING: "We don't want Jericho to be a place where Israeli dates and those from (Jewish) settlements become widespread; this is our aim. The majority of the settlements' dates are poor because they are watered by chemically treated water; this is detrimental to one's health. It is important for us to encourage the farmers, and their products to be sold at a good price; and not to be affected by settlements' products." FACTORY, WHERE WOMEN ARE PUTTING THE DATES IN BOXES VARIOUS OF WOMEN COMBINING THE DATES IN PLASTIC CANS BEFORE THE DATES ARE BEING CLEANED VARIOUS OF DATES YOUTH CLEANING THE DATES WITH WATER CLOSE OF YOUTH'S FACE CLOSE OF DATES VARIOUS OF WOMEN INSIDE FACTORY, FILLING THE DATES IN CARTON BOXES, BEFORE THEY PACK IT CLOSE OF CARTON BOX FILLED WITH DATES, READING IN ARABIC "MAJOL DATES, PRODUCED BY THE PALESTINIAN FARMERS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MERCHANT, AKRAM MUSSA, SAYING: "The price of dates are lower than last year. A kilo of this kind of dates is 3-4 Israeli shekels (0.8 - 1.05 US dollars). The kilo of Majol dates are expensive, between 7-8 Israeli shekels (1.8 - 2.1 U.S. dollars)." TRUNK OF DATES, HANGING OUTSIDE SHOP MAN CALLING PEOPLE TO BUY DATES CLOSE OF DATES VENDOR DATES SHOP
- Embargoed: 9th September 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Industry,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA8CRPOEMNJQVVMKZDZW7CE4UG5
- Story Text: As cheap dates produced in the West Bank's illegal Jewish settlements flood Palestinian markets, the agricultural ministry has been subsidising the more costly dates from Palestinian farmers to help locals switch their choice during Ramadan.
In the historic West Bank town of Jericho, Palestinian date farmers are vying for their space on the market shelves this Ramadan as cheap dates from Israeli settlements have flooded the market.
The Jericho Agriculture Office expects a significant increase in the production of this seasons dates. The director of the agriculture offices in Jericho Ahmed Al Fares said there will be an increase in the quantities of dates this year compared to previous years.
One farmer, Ibrahim Daik, said the extra quantities this year will suit everyone.
"This year, as the production comes with the start of Ramadan; this will help the consumer. I hope it will bring dividends for the farmer and the consumer," he said.
Many farmers like Daik see larger production of Palestinian products as a way of protecting their national dates and reducing the influx of those produced in Jewish settlements - which are widely seen internationally as products of unfair trade.
The settlements' dates are available almost all year round in comparison with the seasonal Palestinian dates.
"We don't want Jericho to be a place where Israeli dates and those from (Jewish) settlements become widespread; this is our aim. The majority of the settlements' dates are poor because they are watered by chemically treated water; this is detrimental to one's health. It is important for us to encourage the farmers, and their products to be sold at a good price; and not to be affected by settlements' products," al-Fares added.
Markets in the West Bank city of Jericho were busy with people stocking up on supplies of meat, vegetables and dates to make the huge feasts traditionally prepared to break each day's fast at sunset.
Dates are commonly eaten at Iftar time (breaking of the fast) due to a popularly held belief that the Prophet Mohammad would break his fast with ripe dates.
The merchants said that the increase in quantities of dates has decreased the price of dates, which may help them to sell their goods.
"The price of dates are lower than last year. The kilo of kind of dates is 3-4 Israeli shekels (0.8 - 1.05 U.S. dollars). The kilo of Majol dates are expensive, between 7-8 Israeli shekels (1.8 - 2.1 U.S. dollars)," said merchant, Akram Mussa.
Jericho's moderate climate makes it an important agricultural area, producing fresh fruits and vegetables all year round.
In Ramadan, Muslims awake before dawn to eat Sahur (an early meal), and will then refrain from eating and drinking until they hear the call for the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib, at sunset. Believers are then free to eat and drink until the next morning's prayer, called Fajr. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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