British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 383

CHAPTER IX.

Total Thereof engaged % in
in agriculture agriculture
Large villages and semi- 5,602
urban places 27,113 21
Cooperative and small
independent villages 20,762 13,163 GS
Communal 15,669 8,349 53
--
63,511 27,114 42.7 187. It may be concluded therefore that in the agricultural settlements proper the proportion of earners engaged in agriculture is 50-60%. The remainder are engaged in other subsidiary occupations as indicated above, save that in communal settlements a much larger proportion than is indicated in the above figures would be engaged in such services as administration, cooking and dining hall, care of children and education, etc.

188. It is estimated that there were about 20 ,000 Jewish farmers in 1944 as under :

Citrus growers Farmers cultivating mixed farms

Workers' subsidiary farms Communal (105 settlements) representing about 6,000 farmers

3,800

5,200 5,000

6,000

189. In recent years the development of domestic industries in the settlements has been noteworthy and arose out of their need for such services as carpentry shops, mechanical workshops and garages for the repair of vehicles, machinery and tools, and small factories for the making of boxes and the canning and preservation of fruits and vegetables, including the making of marmalades and fruit juices. At some places the fact that some of the inhabitants possess special skill or aptitude in one or other of the handicrafts has resulted in the development of small workshops, e.g. for boot making or the manufacture of water-meters. At a number of settlements convalescent homes or hostels have been established to cater not only for members but also for the general public who

Page 383