Agricultural Development in the West Bank (ص 148)
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- Agricultural Development in the West Bank (ص 148)
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gata, there is a large number
in the West Bank.
According to available reference
ch are grown currently
and okra) account for
of vegetable crops whi
But four of these (tomatoy onions, melons,
a under rainfed production. The
about 70 percent of all the are
distributed in tiny shares among more
remaining 30 percent is
than 12 types of vegetables.
les (mainly tomatoes, okra,
The vast proportion of rainfed vegetab:
and snakecucumber) are produc
i ure
is almost totally family-oriented, whether +n regard to the source
‘on of produce. A major share of
©f mobilized labour or consumpti
umed by the farm family, and the rest is sold
Furthermore, most of these
the produce is cons!
to neighbours or in village markets.
opping pattern in olive or young
ff this kind of
Crops are grown in an intercr
Grape orchards. Obviously, the profitability 0:
Agriculture is very difficult to ascertain meaningfully.
Notwithstanding the peasant nature of rainfed vegetable production,
there are a few types of vegetable crops which are grown on &
full-fledged commercial scale. Most significant of these are
melons (cantaloupes and watermelons), which will be discussed
in the next section.
Melons and cantaloupe
The west pank was an important producer of melons prior to Israeli
Sccupation in 1967. According to available data the area under
*Atermelon and cantaloupe during the period 1963-66 averaged
At 75,000 donums producing 75,200 tons? About 95 percent of all
ee
1. See sections on change in acreage and output, Chapter VI.
a
285
watermel.
‘On output was produced in Jenin district under rainfed
cond: Lo
vee 1 produce not only met the needs of domestic
markets but much of it was exported to Jordan.
In the wake of Israeli occupation, melon culture dropped to very
low levels for reasons discussed earlier (see sections on changes
in area and output). In the latter seventies, however, farmers
in Jenin district discovered new opportunities by producing melons
Using modern intensive techniques. The new technology spread so
rapidly that output of watermelon rose again though to levels still
lower than those of pre-occupation. Table (VIII-12) shows trends
i
n area and output for watermelon and cantaloupe during the past
three years.
Table (vrrr - 12)
Area and output of melons
1978 1979 1980
Donums Tons Donums Tons Donums Tons
Wi
Atermelon 815 548 6,217 10,400 11,353 12,800
Cantaloupe 6,975 3,079 3,515 3,400 3,883 4,728
Tt
‘otal 14,790 12,627 9,732 13,800 15,236 17,528
Source: Files of the Department of Agriculture.
Economic significance
Based on national estimates melons do not have a prominent role
in West pank agriculture. Their average share in gross farm
{ncome during the past three years is calculated at 0.5 percent.?
But viewed on a regional basis, melon culture is very important
cc cic
1,
Derived from Administered Territories Statistics Quarterly 1980.
2 cit, p 89. - تاريخ
- ١٩٨٢
- المنشئ
- Hisham Masoud Awartani
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