Beit Ummar Farmers Face Settler Attacks Water Shortages Rising Costs

Farmers in Beit Ummar north of Hebron face increasing difficulties from settler attacks restricted land access water shortages and rising production costs threatening their ability to cultivate land and earn a living Agriculture especially grape cultivation and sheep farming remains the main source of livelihood for many families in the area Ibrahim Al-Sabarneh a farmer from Beit Ummar said his family depends on growing grapes and selling both fruit and leaves in addition to raising sheep and that recent settler attacks have directly affected their work and access to land He added that water reaches the area between Beit Ummar and Halhul only once a week for one to two hours forcing farmers to buy and transport water in tankers to meet irrigation and livestock needs

Yousef Abu Maria coordinator of the Popular Committees in the southern West Bank said farmers face strong competition from Israeli products entering Palestinian markets despite the quality of local produce and that weak marketing and insufficient support worsen their situation He noted that programmes providing olive grape and other seedlings have been suspended for about two years weakening farmers ability to remain on their land Abu Maria called for stronger protection of Palestinian agricultural products limits on Israeli product entry when local alternatives exist and government support including fertilisers agricultural medicines well support spraying equipment and permission to construct wells on private land to improve water access

Anwar Ibrahim Al-Sabarneh another farmer from Beit Ummar said conditions have become extremely difficult mainly due to settler attacks and rising input costs amid declining income opportunities He explained that settlers sheep entered a wheat field several days ago damaging the crop before later entering a vineyard and harming grapevines causing significant losses that can wipe out an entire season s work Al-Sabarneh said he and his brothers own about 100 sheep in the Jabal Saba area but cannot graze them or secure sufficient feed due to restrictions and urged government authorities to provide agricultural inputs support crops and trees and assist farmers in confronting settler attacks to prevent further hardship and land abandonment