The Coordination and Liaison Administration of the Gaza Strip exports
strawberries and flowers from the Gaza Strip to markets in Europe, in
cooperation with Holland, to aid and improve Palestinian agriculture
Date: 24/07/2011, 7:32 PM Author: COGAT Website
http://www.idf.il/1283-12520-EN/Dover.aspx

Head of the Directorate of Agriculture Coordination and Liaison in Gaza, Uri
Madar, held a conference with major Gaza Strip farmers on Wednesday, July
20th, preparing them for cultivation and export of crops for next year. An
Israeli specialist attended the conference, teaching those present proper
cultivation and pest-control methods.

Mr. Madar said that the program is, "Intended to help Palestinian farmers
prepare for the November export season including soil preparation, crop
treatment and appropriate use of pesticides and fertilizers. We hope to
improve crop production after an unsuccessful year, where the crops were
deemed inadequate by European consumers. The strawberry specialist thus
presented the production process, taught of different types and uses of
pesticides and fertilizers, and of post-picking treatment, which is the most
important and delicate step."

Lt. Col. Kobi Gertzvolf, Head of the Directorate of Financial Coordination
and Liaison in Gaza, added that "we want to help Palestinian farmers
properly grow and use pesticides to improve next year's crops in both
quality and quantity, in hope of increasing exports to Europe and thus
improving profits and the Palestinian economy at the Gaza Strip." He added
that "it is evident that the participating farmers had a great time and
learned a lot."