1.5% the average decrease in quantities of crops production 2009

          The monthly report issued by the Department of Statistics indicates a decrease in quantities of crops production by 1.5 % during 2008 as compared with 2007. This decrease has resulted from a decline in the production quantities of the fruit - bearing trees by 6.8 % and the production quantities of field crops by 28.9 %.

General Crops Production Index for 2007-2009 (base year 1997)

Fruit - bearing trees:

• Data indicate a decrease in the production quantities of fruit - bearing trees by 6.8% in 2008 as compared with 2007.
• The production quantities of fruit - bearing trees constitute 23.2% of the total relative importance of crops production.
• The data also indicate that the most important fruit - bearing trees, which witnessed a decrease in its production quantities, are pears by (37.2%), figs (32.7%), olives (24.8%), lemon (19.6%) and grapes (4.5%).
• The decrease of the production quantities of fruit - bearing is attributed to the decrease of its number and low production average.
• The results also indicate an increase in the production quantities of some fruit - bearing trees in 2008 as compared with 2007 such as pomegranates by 38.0 %, apricot 31.1%, banana 19.0%, peach 15.1%, apple 10.8%, peaches 9.8%, orange 2.7% and almond 0.2%.
• The increase of the production quantities of fruit - bearing trees is attributed to the increase of its production average with a relative importance of 13.9%.

Field crops:

• Data indicate a decrease in the production quantities of field crops by 28.9% in 2008 as compared with 2007.
• The production quantities of field crops constitute 10.9% of the total relative importance of plant production.
• The data also indicate that the most important field crops which witnessed a decrease in its production quantities are wheat by (62.7%), check-peas (44.4%), garlic (37.1%), barely (23.6%), dry onion (4.9%) and lentils (2.7%).
• The decrease in the production quantities of field crops is attributed to the decrease of harvested crops areas with high relative importance such as wheat and barely.
• The results also indicate an increase in the production quantities of maize by 8.2% due to the increase in the maize planted area with a relative importance of 0.4%.

Vegetables:

• Data indicate an increase in the production quantities of vegetables by 5.2% in 2008 as compared with 2007.
• The production quantities of vegetables constitute 24.4% of the total relative importance of vegetables production.
• The data also indicate that most important vegetables, which witnessed a decrease in its production quantities, are spinach by (76.3%), green onion (70.4%), paprika (67.3%), potato (41.4%), broad beans (38.1%), peas (24.6%), Jews mallow (24.0%), cauliflower (23.6%), lettuce (18.4%), water melon (14.0%), string beans (9.1%), and eggplant (1.8%).
• The increase of the production quantities of vegetables related is attributed to the increase of the productivity of one dunum of these crops and the size of the planted area especially vegetables with high relative importance such as potato, watermelon, string beans and cauliflower.
• The results also indicate a decrease in the production quantities of vegetables in 2008 as compared with 2007 such as turnip by 79.0 %, parsley 71.1%, radish 69.5%, cabbage 37.4%, carrot 35.3%, snake cucumber 27.3%, chilies 24.5%, cucumber 16.5%, cow-peas 14.1%, squash 10.5%, melon 7.3%, okra 1.8% and tomatoes 1.6%.
• The decrease in the production quantities of vegetables is attributed a decline in their production average with a relative importance of 27.2%.

          It is worthy to note that the crops list whose productions quantities have decreased constitute 61.3% of the index relative importance, which lead to the reduction of index number. It is worthy to mention that the indices calculation of the agricultural production quantities is calculated by applying the (LASPEURE) formula.

          The following figure shows the plant production index of vegetables, fruit - bearing trees and field crops for 2007 – 2008:

The following figure shows the plant production index during 2000-2008