PEST CONTROL PRACTICES and PRODUCTION AND MARKETING FACTORS

PEST CONTROL PRACTICES

In the nursery, no pesticides are used, since plants are unaffected by scab, anthracnose, and insect pests. In the grove, trees receive a single dust application of sulfur; this is applied sometime between June and October. Sulfur is used to control russet, but judging from the small amount of blemished oranges seen in the market place at Gaza (which consumes the fruit un­suitable for export), russet is not the serious problem as it is in other parts of the world, notably Florida.

Control of scale is attempted by application of medium oil emulsion, usually 1 percent. The lack of satisfactory results suggests that better control would be obtained if the percentage of oil in the emulsion were increased. The impenetrability of most groves, however, makes proper application a virtual impossibility.

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING FACTORS

Citrus production is the main economic pursuit of the Gaza Strip and provides the chief source of income. Approximately 90 percent of the fruit grown is shipped abroad, to European as well as Arabian markets. The volume of exports for the period 1956-60 is shown in Table 1.

The area devoted to citrus is at present 18,000 dunums. This represents a sizable increase from the 8,000 dunums of two years ago, and attests to the accelerated pace of citrus growing. About 10,000 dunums are in bearing trees.

Harvesting starts in mid-October and ends in mid-April. Shemouti oranges are picked as early as the middle of October — about a month earlier than the same variety is har­vested north of the Armistice Line. It is claimed that the achievement of a 7 to 1 ratio of solids to acid is attained earlier in Gaza because of favorable climatic conditions and the presence of sandy soils. Picking dates for varieties other than Shamouti are: Valencias — February through April; Sukary oranges — December; mandarins — January and February; lemons -- January; grapefruits — January.

There is increasing interest in the growing of Valencia’s. Spaces left by removal of dying trees as well as new groves are being planted to Valencia’s; at present thi variety brings 1. the price of Shamout is on the European market. Valencias ar favored also for their superior shipping qualities and because of the feeling that tha they are less susceptible than are Shamouti to salt injury and to insect damage. Al though it is not generally appreciated among growers, Valencia’s, being budded on sou: orange, are certainly tolerant to xyloporosis whereas many of the older Shamouti; plantings on sweet lime are suffering from xyloporosis.

Prices realized abroad have generall3 been below prevailing market levels ant reflect the attitude among buyers that fruit: from Gaza are inadequately graded with respect to ripeness, color, and size. The recent establishment of a modern packing house of 80-ton/8-hour-day capacity should do much to remedy some of these short coming and to improve receptivity of Gaza citrus.