Nisaa FM-Tahreer Sawaftah: when heat waves and dust fly in the atmosphere of the Palestinian area, farmers and residents began to complain from the consequences of that on the olive trees, and while they were waiting the season of harvesting, the dust disappeared because of raining, which leads to have an olive full of oil and moisture.
Sawsan Karajah who is in the forties, from Deir Ibze’e village, when she starts talking about this season her smile was full of life, and she said:”We impatiently wait for this season, and when it rained we gathered all our equipment and went to the land to start harvesting.
And Mrs. Karajah added, in harvesting season I feel I am working and achieving, feel that I am able to sustenance my family and share the responsibility.
to listen to Sawsan's interview, click here.
Also, Amna Karajah who is in the seventies, and who is setting on a chair because she cannot move very well, and came to the land to feel live again with her sons and their wives. Besides to the olive mattresses around the trees. She holds the green olive in her dress, and with her hand, she is harvesting olives from the trees to fall to her dress directly.
to listen to Amena's interview, click here.
The manager of Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Ramez Obied said to Nisaa FM that ministry of agriculture decided to start olive harvesting season in the Palestinian territories (West Bank and Gaza) officially on the 9th of October.
Mr. Obeid added that the minister decision came as a result to the difficulties that Palestinian people are facing these days, which leads many farmers to start harvesting before the set date, besides to the climate changes and the heat waves that caused an early ripening for olive trees.
And he expected that, the production of olive oil during the next harvesting season in the West Bank and Gaza together will be between 16-18 thousand ton of olive oil. And comparing to the last year production which reached 64 thousand ton and it were expected to be between 30-40 thousand ton, this year is much less than the past year.
to listen to Ramez's interview 2, click here.
And Obeid point out that it was expected to have a heavy mount of olive especially in April during flowering period, but the decrease of temperatures leads to the fall of the flowers, besides the heat waves which caused drying in the fruits. Also, the less of humidity which decreased the amount of oil.
to listen to Ramez's interview 1, click here.
Although the Palestinian agriculture ministry did not specify the price for each kilo of oil, however Mr. Obeid expected there will be increasing in prices this season, and he said, kilo of oil will be between 25-30 Nis (Shekel).
to listen to Ramez's interview 3, click here.
And Mr. Tariq Abu Laban the manager of marketing at agriculture ministry said to Nisaa FM about the ministry decision of exporting the oil in a shape of guarantees this year. In condition, oil should match the Palestinian specification. And he added the Palestinian oil will be exported to Arab Gulf starting from 1st of November, and that after a research between the ministry of agriculture and dealers and farmers besides to the chambers of commerce.
to listen to Tariq's interview 1, click here.
And he added , this procedures was as a result to what Palestine faced during the past season in exporting oil to Saudi Arabia and there were impurities in oil, and it have been solved by exporting the oil in a shape of guarantees, to have enough time to prepare it before exporting. And dealers must tell the ministry before a week of exporting, and they must fulfill all requirements for that.
to listen to Tariq's interview 2, click here.
Olive harvesting season will always be the reason that bring peace and joy to the heart especially for Parents and grandparents who worked hard to built their lands till it became Generous.
Arabic version available here.