Olive production in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 314. Chapter IX: Agriculture: Section 1: Agriculture Production: (b) Crops and Cropping: Table 4: Irrigated and None Irrigated of Certain Crops in 1934-1935 and 1944-1945.

CHAPTER IX.

Tabla 4.

IRRIGATED AND NON-IRRIGATED AREAS OF CERTAIN CROPS 1934-35 AND 1944-45.

1934-35 I 1944-45
I Non• . Non-
Irrigated. irrigated. Irrigated. l irrigated.
Dunums Dunums Dunums Dunums
Citrus 1250,000 : - 266,000
Green fodder 70,422 **
Vegetables 145,382 I 134,558
Potatoes- 6 142'' 21,972 6,618
Bananas I . * - 7,979 *** 13. Within recent years artificial pastures, under irrigation, have been successfully established on the Government Farm, Acre, and in a few Jewish settlements. Such pastures, because of their economic and soil ameliorating advantages, are likely to become more widespread in the near future in partial replacement of the green fodders on which stall-fed cattle are now dependent. Without irrigation the natural vegetation dries up in the hot and dry summer months; then most of the Arab-owned stock subsist on the after-harvest stubbles which are supplemented, in the case of working and milch animals, with a little straw and some grain. Flocks of the southern area have frequently to be brought to the north in the summer for survival.

14. Palestine is fortunate in the wide range of crops which can be grown, particularly under irrigation, and in its wide range of seasons, from November in the Jordan valley to August in the hills. All produce, except citrus, has found a ready local market since the beginning of the war at comparatively very high prices:

The costs of production will, however, need considerable readjustment to meet peace-time economy.

OLIVES.

15. From the standpoint of planted area, the olive is the principal fruit tree in Palestine. Of the present area of about 600 thousand dunums, 90 per cent. is in bearing and all but about 1 per cent. is Arab owned. Pickling varieties represent at most 1 per cent. of the total area, the main olive areas being planted either with oil producing varieties or dual purpose varieties suitable for both oil and pickling. Both as regards area and oil production Palestine contributes about 1 per cent. to the world's total.
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* Not available.

** Includes non-irrigated.

*** Includes 1,661 dunums not in bearing.

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