BETHLEHEM / PNN – Report by Monjed Jado | Photography by Ahmad Jubran
The eighth annual Al-Khader Grape Festival and Market opened in the town of Al-Khader, west of Bethlehem, as part of a joint initiative by the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC), the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, and Al-Khader Municipality.
The event aims to support the marketing of Palestinian grapes produced in Al-Khader, while strengthening the resilience of Palestinian farmers and promoting locally produced agricultural goods.
The opening ceremony was attended by Bethlehem Governor Mohammad Taha Abu Alia; Tareq Abu Laban, Deputy Minister of Agriculture representing the Minister; Engineer Abdul Wahab Halaika, Director-General of Bethlehem’s Agriculture Directorate; Dr Samir Hazzboun, Chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry; mayors of Al-Khader, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala; as well as representatives of the agricultural sector and various official and community institutions.
Speakers at the event stressed the importance of supporting farmers and strengthening their steadfastness on their land through all available means. They noted that the annual grape market has become an established tradition that contributes both to supporting farmers and creating economic opportunities for producers and consumers alike.
Participants expressed hope that the market would continue to help promote and sell Al-Khader’s grape products each year, reinforcing farmers’ ability to remain on their land amid ongoing settlement expansion that increasingly affects agricultural areas.
Governor Abu Alia emphasised the importance of supporting the agricultural sector and strengthening farmers’ resilience, noting that agriculture remains a source of Palestinian pride and a historical and cultural symbol deeply connected to the land and national identity.
He said Bethlehem Governorate places particular importance on agriculture and farmers because of their close connection to the land and their role in protecting it while supporting the local economy.
Abu Alia praised the efforts of PARC, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Al-Khader Municipality in organising the event, stressing the importance of continuing such initiatives to support Palestinian agricultural products, promote grapes and related products, and provide farmers with opportunities to market their produce locally.
Speaking at the event, Ziad Salah, Director of PARC in Bethlehem Governorate, said Palestinian farmers are in urgent need of support to remain on their land, adding that the market represents one form of such assistance.
He said 43 male and female farmers are participating in this year’s market, offering high-quality grape varieties at affordable prices, describing the event as an opportunity for mutual support between citizens and farmers.
Organisers, including the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the market was originally established to assist farmers and has succeeded over the years in marketing significant quantities of Al-Khader grapes, produced in areas facing ongoing pressures.
Dr Samir Hazzboun, Chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the market has become an effective tool for supporting farmers by promoting their products. He noted that the festival is being organised for the eighth consecutive year through a partnership involving the Chamber, PARC, Al-Khader Municipality and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Hazzboun said cooperation among the various partners has enabled the market to succeed and contribute annually to the sale of dozens of tonnes of Al-Khader grapes, considered among the finest grape varieties in Palestine and cultivated on lands facing continuing challenges.
He added that this year the grapes were packaged in boxes featuring the colours of the Palestinian flag and the logos of partner organisations, reflecting efforts to promote Palestinian products and enhance their competitiveness against imported produce.
Farmers expressed appreciation for the market, saying it helps them sell products cultivated under difficult conditions and after considerable effort to reach and work their land.
Umm Mohammad, a farmer from Al-Khader, said she was pleased with the market because it helps her sell produce harvested from her land despite difficult circumstances.
She said that during the grape season she leaves for her land at around 1 a.m. each day to harvest grapes and has faced fear and risks while doing so. Despite these difficulties, she said she remains determined to continue cultivating her land and called on consumers to support Palestinian grapes.
Farmer Khalil Mousa described the market as an important opportunity to sell his produce and thanked all institutions involved in organising the event, noting that it provides valuable support to farmers every year.
Bethlehem’s Al-Khader Grape Festival Helps Farmers Sustain Their Land and Livelihoods
Aggregated summary from an independent source. Read the original at PNN.