Palestinian agricultural losses, $ 288 million, 374,000 trees

The Palestinian ministry of agriculture on Saturday stressed that direct losses which hit the agricultural sector in the Palestinian territories during 8 months since September 28, 2000 reached approximately $ 280 million.

In a report, the ministry said that some " 374030 trees were uprooted in various areas of which 108951 trees were olive."

The Palestinian minister of agriculture Hikmat Zeid said that the " recent and strong siege of the Palestinian territories greatly affected the farmers as a result of the suspension of the transport movement of internal and external agricultural crops. A matter which doubled the losses of farmers by the beginning of this Summer's seasons."