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AGRO-FOOD SECTOR IN
PALESTINIAN NATIONAL
AUTHORITY: FACTS AND
FIGURES
COUNTRY TOTAL SURFACE
The total area of west bank and Gaza Strip isestimated at 6.245 million dunums.
The West Bank covers 5.88 million dunums
Gaza Strip 0.365 million dunums.
The ministry of Agriculture has divided thePalestinian N. Authority into five major Agro-Ecological zones: The classification was based onseveral factors including climate, topography, soiltype and farming systems as follows:1- The Jordan valley zone2- Eastern Slopes zone3- Central Highlands zone4- Semi-coastal zone5- Coastal zone
AGRICULTURAL AREA AND PRODUCTION
The main field, fruit trees, vegetableand stone fruit crops planted in Palestine,their areas, varieties and an indication oftheir production are given in Table 1 and2.
Table 1: Agricultural area and production 1998
Crops Cultivated Area(Dunums)
Production (Tons)
Fruit Trees 1148405 380787
Vegetables 181984 480848
Field Crops 530276 167934
Flowers 715 71.5 mill
Total 1861380 1029569
Table 2: Area, Varieties and Production of Field Crops, 1997/1998
Crops CultivatedArea
(Dunums)
Production(Tons)
Lemon 27277
Grapefruit 9983
Shammoty 34710
Valencia 59733
Strawberry 4363
Wheat 209436 3652.3
Barley 126313 15726
Lentil 27067 1469
Chickpeas 26381 2009
Sesame 6995 320
Peanut 144 79
Sun flower 67 17
Safflower 45 1
Thyme 562 853
Cumin 276 11
Chamomile 57 3
Olive 877059 98137
Grapes 747799 56912
Apple 2164 712
Palm 2809 3497
Banana 5165 20653
Figs 13941 6830
Citrus 59244 162042
Tomato 25918 153939
Eggplants 7634 36341
Pepper 5811 17709
Garlic 385 811
Onion 1475 16657
Broad Bean 4591 3515
Lettuce 972 2852
Watermelon 8381 19757
Cucumber 17516 100668
Radish 1074 2540
Carrot 1118 3702
Potato 23068 58692
Maize 4314 5388
Cauliflower 8364 20397
Beans 4765 6073
Peas 5157 2416
Okra 11491 2875
LIVESTOK PRODUCTION
Type Production (Tons)
Red Meat 21594
Milk 115395
Honey Bees 602
Fish 3572
Eggs 495 mill.
Broilers 65534
Type Quantity
Cattle 23858 heads
Sheep 504078 heads
Broilers 10654000
Layer Birds 2059000
MAJOR FOOD-PROCESSING ACTIVITIES IN PALESTINE
Product Cetegory Specific Products
Cereals Rice, Flour, Pasta, Noodles,Semolina
Meat, Fish and Poultry Cold Cuts, Processed Meat,Sardine and Tuna in Cans,Sisages
Diary Products Milk, Yogurt, Chees
Oils and Shortening Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, SoyaOil, Corn Oil, Vegetable andAnimal Shortening
Fruits and Vegetables Dates, Raisins, Nuts and Seeds,Pickles, Soup Mix and Jams
NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS IN OPERATION IN FOOD-PROCCESING (1998)
Type of Establishment Number ofEstablishments
Meat and Diary 63
Preserving Fruits andVegetables
15
Vegetables and Animal Oil 244
Total 322
AGRO-FOOD SECTOR IN PALESTINIAN NATIONAL
AUTHORITY
Agriculture plays an important role in the Palestinian
economy, although its contribution to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) has gradually declined over the last 30 years.
In 1997, the agricultural value added was 6.4 percent of GDP,
compared to 13.7 percent in 1994 and 40 percent in 1968. The
value of agricultural production in the WBGS amounted to
US$ 768.5 million in 1997.
Palestinian agricultural trade and food processing
industry have been influenced by and subjected to
political status and unsettled conditions in the
Middle East. While Israeli farm products have
free access to the markets of WBGS without
limitations, Palestinian agricultural exports to
Israel have been regulated and restricted. The
Israeli officials have claimed that most of the
regulations have been imposed for security
reasons.
Table 1: Palestinian Agricultural Trade in US$ million between 1995- 1997 compared to 1992-1994
Import ExportProduct
92-94 96 97 92-94 96 97
Live Animals 59 30 31.7 9 2.1 0.9
Frozen Meat 15 20 22 0 6 6
Poultry 17 8.9 10.9 0 0.45 0.26
Fish 12 3.1 4.1 1.4 1.3 1.4
Diary Productsand Milk
57 25.2 48.7 14.3 1.65 1.59
Import ExportProduct
92-94 96 97 92-94 96 97
Eggs 0 5 6 15 0 0
Rice 60 15 11.5 0 0.6 0.3
Wheat Flour 104 140 118 0 5.1 5.6
Sugar 10 35 39 0 0 0
Coffee andTea
10 12 7.5 0 0 0
Vegetables 45 13 18 44 12 20
Import ExportProduct
92-94 96 97 92-94 96 97
Fruits 40 40 20 13 6 8
Citrus 0 0 0 30 11 17
VegetableOils
15 6.8 16 3.3 23 24
Olive Oil No data No data No data No data No data No data
FeedingStuffs
70 65 67 0 0 0
Fertilizers 18 32 38 0 0 0
DOMISTIC MARKETING INFRASTRUCTURES,
FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Transportation
Transportation of agricultural products suffers from the conditions of the roads networks that slow movement of goods inside the WBGS. In addition, transportation of fresh agricultural products is subject to imposed measures such as the use of the so-called green trucks (in use to cross the border with Jordan), the lack of refrigerated trucks and the inadequate facilities at the border with Jordan and Egypt, which heavily affect the quality of perishable agricultural products. Finally, agricultural products undergo long procedures (i.e. convoy system and security checks) when transported through Israel by Palestinian licensed trucks. In case Israeli licensed trucks transport products, security procedures are faster at the checkpoints.
Transportation of animal products is not an exception, with only 8 refrigerated trucks in the WB to transport the meat from slaughterhouses to butchers. Such transportation facilities are important since many slaughterhouses do not provide refrigerated truck services.
Palestinian traders access foreign markets through Israeli ports of entry and exit, where Palestinian products, particularly agricultural, receive a discriminatory treatment (i.e. security measures) despite of the Paris Protocol that affirms the principle of equal treatment for the Palestinian and Israeli goods. Checks and lengthy delays are very costly, particularly for perishable goods, transported through the airport.
Inadequate Services of Wholesale Markets, Cold Storage and Packing Facilities for Plant
Production
Wholesale markets in the WB are 12, while 2 major ones operate in GS. A brief description of the dimensions and facilities available in the markets of the WB is presented in Table 2. These municipal markets deal with fresh products (fruits and vegetables).
Table 2: Wholesale Markets in the West Bank
Location Area in 1000Square Meters
Cold StorageCapacity in
Square Meters
Cold StorageCapacity in
Tones
Number ofWholesalers
Number ofStors
Nablus 40 5700 2850 31 42
Jenin 13 -- -- 30 30
Jericho 3.5 -- -- 11 11
Hebron 1.5 -- -- 14 14
Ramallah 2.5 -- -- 8 3
El Bireh 1.6 -- -- 3 --
Location Area in 1000Square Meters
Cold StorageCapacity in
SquareMeters
ColdStorage
Capacity inTones
Number ofWholesalers
Number ofStors
Halhoul 2.4 800 435 21 22
Qalqilia 0.75 -- -- 6 6
Bethlehem 15 Not working 500 25 30
Tulkaram 0.65 -- -- 9 9
Jerusalem 1 25 12 11 15
Sharawiya 4 -- -- 4 4
The inadequate service of cold storage and sorting capacities in wholesales markets have limited role in:
• -adjusting the agricultural supply of perishable agricultural products
• -extending the marketing period
• -reducing export as well as local price fluctuations.
• Table 3 describes the situation of refrigerated storing facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Table 3: Cooling Rooms for Fruits and Vegetables in the Gaza Strip
Location Number of CoolingRooms
Capacity in CubicMeters
Capacity in Tones
South Gaza 35 12719 4000
Gaza City 9 3267 1000
Middle Gaza 15 6250 3500
Khaniunis 20 4123 2500
Rafah 30 7364 3600
Slaughterhouses
Eight slaughterhouses exist (Table 4), four of which are recently built. Five of them offer refrigerated transportation facilities from the slaughterhouses to the butchers everyday. When the slaughterhouse dose not provide service, butchers normally transport the meat in private, non refrigerated cars under unhealthy conditions.
Table 4: Distribution and Conditions of Slaughterhouses in WBGS
Capacity(head per day)
District Slaughterhouses RefrigeratedTrucks
Sheep Cattle
Waste WaterNetwork
Ramallah Modern 2 1000 50 Yes
Bethlehem Old 1 110 18 Yes
Jericho Modern 1 20 5 Yes
Nablus Modern 3 500 50 Yes
Agro-Processing Enterprises
The availability of processing structures can absorb agricultural surpluses such as citrus, certain vegetables among which tomatoes are most representative, and fruits). In the present time, second class strawberries produced in the GS are sometimes sold to a juice factory in Israel for very low prices. This is due to the absence of a factory in the GS that can process the strawberries to higher value added products such as strawberry juice and ice cream. Moreover, local processed food can substitute imports from Israel and other countries which improves the Palestinian trade deficit.
Number of establishments in operation in food-processing (1998)
Type of Establishment Number of Establishments
Meat and Diary 63
Preserving Fruits and Vegetables 15
Vegetables and Animal Oil 244
Total 322
According to a study conducted by the Ministry of planning and international cooperation in 1998, Palestinian processed agricultural products suffer from the unavailability of quality controls. They are identified as having low standards compared to the requirements (i.e. ISO 9000) and lack consumer confidence. Moreover, while local agricultural inputs are available, direct imports of inputs (i.e. packing materials, additives and coloring) from other countries suffer from the general constraints affecting Palestinian trade.
MAIN CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED ON PALESTINIAN
AGRICULTURAL TRADE
Constraints facing plant production1- Inadequate direct export facilities
2- Incompetitive and weak agro-processing
industry
3- Instable prices in the domestic markets
4- Long marketing channels
5- Frequent surpluses
6- Inadequate services of precooling, grading,
export packaging, cold storage and trucks.
Constraints facing the livestock sector 1- Inadequate direct import facilities
2- Inadequate slaughter houses facilities
3- Incompetitive dairy industry
4- Long marketing channels
5- Frequent shortage in output and inputs
6- Inadequate services of cold storage and cold
trucks
Restriction on imported inputs
Animal feedstuffs and fertilizers are the two major controlled inputs imported from Israel. Importing fertilizers and animal feedstuffs from abroad have been highly restricted by the Israeli authorities. For example, imports of fertilizers from Jordan and Egypt were allowed up to six thousand tons annually.
Restriction on water and land utilization:
Of all the problems affect the Palestinian agricultural sector, water is the most complex issue. Water pumping and utilization in the WBGS has long been subjected to Israeli restrictions and regulations. Israeli water policy has influenced Palestinian agricultural.
Constraints affecting trade with the rest of the world
Obstacles to imports of feedstuffs from other countries than Israel have influenced the Palestinian diary sub-sector.
Concerning exporting, Palestinian products can be exported directly without restrictions. However, Palestinian export are subjected to Israeli practices such as security measures, checks and inspections that slow and sometimes impede the free movement of agricultural goods outside the WBGS. A major consequence of these practices is that Palestinian agricultural exports reach final destination countries late or damaged, affecting the reliability and reputation of Palestinian producers in foreign markets.
SOLUTIONS FOR ALLEVIATING EXISTING
CONSTRAINTS
There are few possible options
available to Palestinian agricultural trade and food
processing industry.
Cooperation between WBGS with Jordan
The following table shows possible areas of cooperation between the
two regions
Agricultural Products
Commodity Potential
Direction
Commodity Potential
Direction
Field Crops J P Red Meat J P
Vegetables P J Poultry Meat P J
Fruits J P Eggs P J
Citrus P J Fish P J
Olive
Products
P J Milk P J
Agricultural Inputs
Input Potential Direction
Fertilizers J P
Feedingstuff J P
Capital J P
Agricultural Services
Services Potential Direction
Research J P
Credits and Loans J P
Marketing Facilities J P
Cold Storage J P
Inventions J P
Transportation J P
Trade liberalization
WBGS as well as developing countries, are net importers of food products. They face serious difficulties in their balance of payments. When the trade of WBGS liberalize the domestic market will be less isolated from the international and regional prices.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Developing of local marketing structures and management through
improving the infrastructure and marketing facilities (transportation, storage, packing, slaughterhouses, laboratories and so on).
Investment in agroprocessing enterprises
Provide the legal framework and promoting establishment of growers, exporters and commission agents associations. Such associations would help in organizing production, marketing, and exports and providing marketing information about markets, standards and products quality.
Producers and exporters associations could be utilized as an instrument for providing specialized extension services and training for
growers and exporters.
Full collaboration with the private sector associations in order to establish an effective marketing information system that helps all stakeholder involved in production, marketing, exporting, importing consumers and researchers.
Establishing a quality standard system for agricultural products and food processing industries Low quality products is one of the major problems facing Palestinian exporters especially to Europe. Several trial shipments of seedless grapes to the UK markets have failed due to the low quality of the products. Establishing such systems will change the entire marketing system and its competitiveness.
Quality assurance programs should be developed to help growers, marketers and producers to comply with grades and standards of agricultural products sold in
domestic and international markets.