GAZA, Oct 5 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian farmers in the Gaza Strip have been harvesting dates, hoping to see profits, despite the COVID-19 crisis.
The Hamas-run agriculture ministry said, in a press statement that, the Strip has about 250,000 palm trees. Some 150,000 of them bear fruits.
This year, the palm trees would produce around 9,000 tonnes of dates, 500 tonnes of which will be exported to the West Bank, through the commercial crossing, Kerem Shalom, the ministry said.
Amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry has banned the import of dates from abroad, in an attempt to support local farmers.
Jamal Abu Jumiza, a 62-year-old farmer from Dir Al Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip, said, he welcomed the ministry’s decision, adding that, it would help him and other farmers sell their products.– NNN-WAFA
