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The Palestine Ministry of Agriculture announced Sunday that the occupied Gaza strip has become self-sufficient in olive production for the first time in 25 years. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ministry’s undersecretary, Ibrahim Al-Qudra, <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a>, “the total quantity of the strip-produced olive fruits this year was amounting to 26,237 tons, adding that it had led to the production of 4,200 tons of olive oil”. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ability to pick and sell olives is not only <\/span>vital<\/span><\/a> to Gaza’s economy but a pastime enjoyed by families across the Strip.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Decades of occupation and devastating Israeli military assaults have caused a significant <\/span>decline<\/span><\/a> in olive production in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According<\/span><\/a> to Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture, “despite olives being one of Gaza’s main crops, 500 tons of olive products are imported to the territory every year”.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ministry <\/span>banned<\/span><\/a> the importation of olive oil in September in an effort to “support local production”.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Official data by the ministry <\/span>reveals<\/span><\/a> the total consumption of olive oil in gaza to be 4,000 tons.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Separately, the ministry also <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> this past week that a quantity of strawberries were exported to Gulf countries from Gaza for the first time as a “test sample”.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ministry Director, Adham Al-Bassiouni, said in a press statement that “three tonnes of strawberries were exported on Wednesday as a sample to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain,” Middle East Monitor <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Al-Bassiouni also stated that total production of strawberries is expected to reach 5,100 tonnes this year.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “The ministry is planning to export strawberries this year to the Gulf countries, the occupied West Bank, as well as other international markets,” Al-Bassiouni <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n