The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in the Gaza Strip have started a test to grow pineapples in the besieged coastal enclave for the first time.

Pineapples will be grown in what used to be Israel’s colonies to the south of Gaza. The first stage of the project will include planting a dunum (1,000 square meters) of pineapples, which were brought from the West Bank city of Tulkarim.

Sameer Alshaer, the supervisor of the project said, “Pineapples are grown in hot areas because it needs to be exposed to sunshine for long periods and take up to 18 months to grow.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJDoA6NHsTc

He added, “We used plastic houses to solve the issue of the hot weather (and) planted 6,000 pineapples.”

Alshaer noted that the project aims to reduce dependency on fruits produced in Israel. It also aims to keep the currency within the Gaza Strip. Pineapples will be sold at 20 NIS (4.2 USD).

(PC, SAFA)