WEST BANK-GUAVA EXPORT Qalqilya guava farmers boost production despite West Bank barrier

Record ID: 565569

  • Title: WEST BANK-GUAVA EXPORT Qalqilya guava farmers boost production despite West Bank barrier
  • Date: 16th September 2014
  • Summary: QALQILYA, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 15, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SECURITY BARRIER AS SEEN FROM BEHIND A GUAVA TREE GUAVA ON TREE LANDS OF GUAVA TREES FARMER SITTING NEXT PAILS FILLED WITH GUAVA GUAVA FILLED IN PAILS FARMER PICKING GUAVA FARMER, AHMED HILMI, PICKING UP GUAVA GUAVA ON TREE TREES AND BARRIER BEHIND THEM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FARMER, AHMED HILMI, SAYING: "The most important problems are the problems of the wall, and not allowing the farmers to enter through the gates of the wall to pick up fruits from lands owned by Qalqilya. The farmers face problems to get permits to go to lands through gates, toward their lands behind the wall. They face lots of problems. What remains in Qalqilya, these are the lands remaining inside the city. If the guava will not be exported, it will not be sold in local markets. At the beginning of the season, we sell it locally but after the 20th of September, if it will not be exported to Jordan it will not be sold in local markets." ISRAELI MILITARY BASE ON BARRIER GUAVA TREES MILITARY BASE VARIOUS OF BARRIER CUT THE GUAVA TREES LANDS MAYOR OF QALQILYA, MOHAMMED DAOUD, IN OFFICE PALESTINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAYOR OF QALQILYA, MOHAMMED DAOUD, SAYING: "After it lost its agricultural lands, what remains is less than one-third of their lands. Around 2000 dunums (500 acres) are planted inside, outside and around the province. They produce from 10-12 thousands tons of Guava." RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 15, 2014) (REUTERS) MERCHANT ON VENDOR SELLING GUAVA IN RAMALLAH MAIN MARKET FRUITS CLOSE OF GUAVA IN BOXES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MERCHANT, ZIAD AL-ZAIN, SAYING: "This Guava, we bring it from Qalqilya because it is well-known. It's sweet, clean and delicious, the water is clean. People ask for it, they sell it to abroad, they sell it to Jordan, because it's first class, the Qalqilya is known by being Palestinian." CLOSE OF GUAVA VENDOR OF GUAVA
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1LF1I2MORRGWD4L3QU9GA38KX
  • Story Text: The city of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank is famed for its guava. The green fruit is sought after in markets across the territory and beyond. But for guava growers, farming in the shadow of Israel's imposing security fence has become a challenging and difficult task.
    The separation barrier cuts through much of the West Bank. The Israelis say it is needed to prevent suicide attacks, while Palestinians say it has eaten up large parts of territory they want for a future state, dividing them from their land.
    The network of concrete walls, fences and ditches separate farmers from their holdings and reduce the size of the West Bank, farmers say.
    Today farmers need prior permission and co-ordination with the Israeli army in order to access the land.
    "The most important problems are the problems of the wall, and not allowing the farmers to enter through the gates of the wall to pick up fruits from lands owned by Qalqilya. The farmers face problems to get permits to go to lands through gates, toward their lands behind the wall. They face lots of problems," explained farmer, Ahmed Hilmi.
    The Qalqilya governorate was known as a bread basket for the West Bank before Israel built the fence. Today Qalqilya is almost completely surrounded by the barrier, and the concrete structure and about 3,000 dunums (750 acres) of agricultural land is either near the fence or within the 30-metre buffer zone.
    "What remains in Qalqilya, these are the lands remaining inside the city. If the guava will not be exported, it will not be sold in local markets. At the beginning of the season, we sell it locally but after the 20th of September, if it will not be exported to Jordan it will not be sold in local markets," Hilmi added.
    The Mayor of Qalqilya explained to Reuters Television that more than one-third of farm land have been affected by the fence.
    "After it lost its agricultural lands, what remains is less than one-third of their lands. Around 2000 dunums (500 acres) are planted inside, outside and around the province. They produce from 10-12 thousands tons of Guava," said Mayor Mohammed Daoud.
    Despite the difficulties and the loss of their farmland, the guava producers have managed to increase production for export of this popular fruit to neighbouring Jordan.
    Qalqilya's guava is a favourite among West Bankers. At a fruit and market stall in Ramallah, street vendor Ziad Al-Zain, holding the plump green fruit in his hand, shouts out to passing shoppers "Qalqilya guava!"
    "This Guava, we bring it from Qalqilya because it is well-known. It's sweet, clean and delicious, the water is clean. People ask for it, they sell it to abroad, they sell it to Jordan, because it's first class, the Qalqilya is known by being Palestinian," he said.
    Qalqilya is home to more than 100,000 Palestinians living within an area of 166 square kilometres, the second most densely populated governorate in the West Bank.

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