WEST BANK: Small village near the West Bank city of Jenin a hub for planting and supplying locals with affordable tobacco

Record ID: 561948

  • Title: WEST BANK: Small village near the West Bank city of Jenin a hub for planting and supplying locals with affordable tobacco
  • Date: 23rd July 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TOBACCO FARMER WASFI ABU BAKER SAYING: ''(We either) package it, sell it by the kilo or export it. In the old days Gaza was open and we used to send it there, the market was in good shape and things were fine. Now Gaza is closed, the market in the West Bank is dead, and, that's it.''
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVADIQS83JCC4J4LTIHQCBIG77DQ
  • Story Text: West Bank farmers are turning to planting tobacco rather than more traditional crops, saying it is in great demand by cash-strapped West Bankers who are turning to cheaper, local tobacco sources.
    West Bank farmers are turning to planting tobacco rather than more traditional crops as a means for making an income, saying it is in great demand by cash-strapped West Bankers who are resorting to cheaper, local tobacco sources.
    Tobacco farmer Wasfi Abu Baker, 60, manages a family-run business growing and supplying tobacco to local shops from his home in the village of Yabad in Jenin district. He says economic and social pressures, particularly those on young people, have increased the number of smokers and the demand for affordable tobacco.

    "We plant tobacco since there was an increase in demand for tobacco after the Intifada (second Palestinian Uprising against Israeli occupation in September 2000). People do not have money and they want to smoke, they are forced to smoke, so we started to plant Arabic tobacco plants, especially in this area of Yabad because in the West Bank, this area is historically recognized for tobacco planting,'' Abu Baker told Reuters Television.
    ''(We plant tobacco) to provide smokers with cheap tobacco while making a profit for ourselves to support our families," he added.
    Abu Baker says his village climate is ideal for tobacco planting. In the spring, he lays the seeds with the help of his three sons and in the summer season they gather the plant and slowly go through the process of setting it to dry and crushing it in preparation for packaging and selling.
    ''(We either) package it, sell it by the kilo or export it. In the old days Gaza was open and we used to send it there, the market was in good shape and things were fine. Now Gaza is closed, the market in the West Bank is dead, and, that's it,'' Abu Baker said.
    Abu Baker markets his tobacco in some Israeli cities and sells it in the West Bank and Gaza strip. Although he is aware of the traumatic health effects which maybe caused by smoking, he is proud of his crop and says it is all natural, providing a healthier and more affordable alternative to famous brands on the market.
    ''Palestinian tobacco is in good competition with all types of tobacco. I can even tell you that some tobacco cigars taste better than Marlboro cigarettes because it is natural, we don't add flavourings, additives, artificial colours or any of that. It is a natural tobacco and free of nicotine," he said.
    ''Yes, there are. Young people smoke Arabic (tobacco) because the price of a 20-pack of cigarettes is almost 2.5 or 3 Shekels (almost 1 US Dollars - USD). So, of course, if he goes to buy a pack of Marlboro or L&M, it is at least 10 Shekels (almost 3 USD). So a young person will save money, as you can see the (economic) conditions, in order to save money and buy his children something. Instead of spending 10 Shekels on cigarettes he can buy several kilos of tomato," Abu Baker added.
    A report released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reveals Palestinian youths aged 15-29 smoke an average of 30 thousand cigarette packs a day at an average cost of 78,000 USD. The report also states there are about 488 thousand smokers aged 10 years and older in the Palestinian territories.
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