Agricultural Development in the West Bank (ص 130)
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- عنوان
- Agricultural Development in the West Bank (ص 130)
- المحتوى
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248
sonal
set. At this stage almonds are consumed fresh as a sea’
fruits pass through
delicacy, several weeks afterwards, the fru:
i id and sold
another edible stage when they can be picked half sol
at high prices in Amman markets. Most of the crop, however, is
i i . After
Usually left to dry out, and then picked in mid-summer
they are picked almond fruits are dressed of their wilting green
i led
Sover, and then either stored as dry fruits or further shelle
°f their stone cover and stored as dry almond seeds.
It is difficult to project accurately the percentage of almonds
oMsumed in the forms described above, since this @pends largely
n unpredictable market variations. But according to sampled
farmers and technicians the distribution in most years is roughly
88 follows: 25 percent of the crop is picked green, 10 percent
half-solid, and 65 percent in the solid stage.
Almond seeds are consumed fresh or toasted in brine water. But
the bulk of dry seeds is used in making certain forms of popular
Sweets and confectionary.
Ritter almonds constitute around 10 percent of almonds in production.
Their fruits are not fit for eating purposes, but they are also
15 Strong demand, though at much lower prices than sweet varieties.
They are channelled almost totally into Israel where they are used
ij
the pharmaceutical industry.
Ae
“erding to official data, almonds contribute some 5-10 percent
or . . 2
Toss agricultural income. While this is little less than
the ar
Share of grapes, it is certainly considerably lower than that
°
¥ olive and citrus.
2hg
However, despite their rather modest quantitative contribution,
almonds could potentially play an important role in West Hank
agriculture. This will be explored later in this section.
Gonsumption and exports
Although a fairly Popular food item, the almond is not consumed
in quantities comparable to those of olives or grapes. In the
first place it is not considered as a staple food. Furthermore,
almond prices have soared to a point where producers are tempted
to turn more produce into the market, at the expense of home
Sonsumption. Due to its pronounced output variations, almond
©onsumption varies widely from one year to another. According
to respondents' estimates the quantity consumed locally (of dry
‘lmonds) is in the neighbourhood of 50 tons, ie. about one third
°f total output.
Almonds, in all their edible forms, are considered as basically export
Commodities. About 80 percent of green and half-solid almonds
&te exported to Jordan. Shelled almond seeds, on the other hand,
have a wider export potential. About half of the exported produce
%€8 to Jordan (and Syria) and the other half goes to Israel which,
®Ccording to informed business sources, re-exports much of it to
Ypnis and possibly thereafter to some Arab countries.
The flow of shelled almond seeds into Jordan (and hence to other
Arab Markets) has frequently been obstructed by problems arising
From boycott regulations. Jordan was formerly reluctant to permit
the entry of any almond seeds shelled in Israeli mills, which
“timulated the establishment of the first West Bank almond
“Relling mill in 1977. Even now, it is suspected that some of
Teraeits mich larger almond supply might be smuggled into
“**rdanian markets under a West Bank label. - تاريخ
- ١٩٨٢
- المنشئ
- Hisham Masoud Awartani
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