Kobanî people harvested pistachios ,fear of not exporting

HÊZA HASSEN /KOBANΠ

The areas adjacent to the Euphrates River are in the 3rd  class in northern Syria, in terms of fruit trees, olives and pistachios, due to its temperate climate and irrigated land.

In Kobanî, the cultivation of these crops is concentrated in west villages, where the most important of which is the cultivation of pistachio trees, because the land is suitable for planting pistachio trees more than any other type of trees.

According to farmers, the percentage of pistachios known as "al-Helabi pistachios" planted in the western countryside more than 35 thousand trees.

The amount of pistachios produced by farmers depends on farmers' interest and care for trees, through the spraying of pesticides and prevent the spread of insect pests in trees.

This year, Kobanî witnessed a drop in rainfall, which adversely affected the pistachio crop, which led to the maturing of empty seeds with black spots, according to farmers.

Farmers say the price of a kilo of pistachios will be sold this year at 700 S.P (One and a half dollars) per kilo, in addition to last year, which was sold at 1500 S.P pounds, due to the block of roads for export.

Farmer Mohamed Sidou said ,"This year is different from the previous one, where last year we could export it, but this year we have concerns that we cannot export our crops out of the siege we are suffering."

A.H

ANHA