British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 340

CHAPTER IX.

by planting of early and late varieties is limited on account of the damage caused by the Mediterranean fruit fly; interest is being shown in increasing the area planted with clementines and mandarines.

64. Costs of cultivation per dunum which before the war ranged from £P.5 to £P.10 (with yields of from 40 to 100 export cases) are now from £P.10 to £P.113 and the general average yield is at present only about 35 cases; this lower yield is a result of the inevitably reduced average standard of cultivation and the lack of nitrogenous fertiliser during the war period.

65. During the last season in which the industry worked at a normal level (1938/39) some 19,000 workers were employed in the Jewish groves during the busiest season. About half of this total were engaged on fruit-picking. Of this total, between four and five thousand were permanent labourers, the remainder being seasonal labour. During a normal season, some 15 1000 persons were employed in the Arab groves during the busy months. Between three and five thousand persons only were permanent labour. It has been estimated that, in the industry as a whole, some 20,000 persons might be employed during the slack months rising to 30,000 and upwards in successive seasons to 50,000 during the busy months in a three year period of recovery following the end of the war. These figures may appear unduly high in relation to the figures given above ill respect of seasons of high production before the war; they are to a large extent, of course, dependent on a programme of expanding marketing.

66. Prior to the war, particularly considering the rapidly increasing exports, the marketing lacked adequate organisation ; about two-thirds of the Jewish grown fruit was marketed cooperatively, but the balance was handled by a large number of exporters. This led to unnecessary competition and a lack of coordination .very detrimental to the int.erests of the industry. The importance of enabling the industry better to regulate its affairs was recognised and preliminary steps were taken in 1939, as a long term measure, for the formation of a Citrus Control Board. This body received its constitution from the Citrus Control Ordinance, 1940*. It consists of three official members appointed by the High Commissioner (who designates one of them as chairman) and eight "producer members" appointed by the High Commissioner as representatives of citrus growers. The Board is a body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal. It may, with the High Commissioner's approval, make rules for the control and regulation of the area under citrus cultivation; in
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* Vol. I of 1940 legislation, page 224.

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