Palestinian farmers receive olive tree seedlings from Canadian Gift Catalogue

One thousand Palestinian farmers in the East Hebron Area Development Programme (ADP) recently received 21,000 olive tree seedlings donated by the World Vision Canada Gift Catalogue to help families generate a subsidiary income and enhance food security in the ADP.

More than 80,000 people live in the East Hebron rural area that suffers from a particularly high level of unemployment. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 30% of people are unemployed the in Hebron governorate. In the eastern rural area where the ADP is located, the unemployment rate is even higher.

Increasing olive production was chosen for this as not only are olives and olive oil basic ingredients of a Palestinian diet, but they also sell for a good price.

[lquotebox]Increasing olive production was chosen for this as not only are olives and olive oil basic ingredients of a Palestinian diet, but they also sell for a good price.[/lquoteboxThe ADP's Programme Officer Nawwaf Al-Atawneh, explained. 'The seedlings distributed were from the finest brand that is especially adapted to the dry local environment. In three years each tree will start producing about 7 kg (16 pounds) annually that will increase a year later to reach 15 kg (33 pounds)', explained the ADP's Programme Officer Nawwaf Al-Atawneh,

Ibrahim aged 29, received 20 seedlings that he planted in his small piece of land around his house.

Ibrahim, a father of three children aged 3 to 9 years-old, worked up to two years ago as a day labourer in Israel until a cave collapsed on him and his colleague, killing the other labourer and leaving Ibrahim seriously injured.

His spinal cord was broken and his legs were paralyzed for life. His small orchard and alms (?) he received from people in the community have since helped the family survive his unemployment and injury.

He says: 'It was a nightmare for me to be dependent on other people for a living as I cannot move from my wheelchair. Now, my wife and children will plant the seedlings, but I will instruct them on how to do it. I was a part-time farmer all my life.'

This is not the first time that Ibrahim is helped by WV. Last year, the ADP renovated the family bathroom to make it accessible to him.

Ibrahim's oldest daughter Ghadir is a sponsored child and his other daughter Raghed is about to join the sponsorship programme.

Although it will take three year for the seedlings to grow and start producing olives, Ibrahim is happy that he would then be able to increase his income. He says that each kilo of olives sells for about US$ 1.5 and if pickled would bring double the price. This means that he would be able to increase his annual income by about US$400, a respectable amount of money in Bani Naim.

For now, Ibrahim looks at the short seedlings and imagines them growing fast to help his family end its financial ordeal.

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