Almond Seed Wasp Project
2016 update: With a grant from Christian Aid, CORE committed to almond farmers to buy up infected almond fruits from the previous season to dispose of them organically, without using pesticides.
The happy result is that checks of this years almond crop is showing less than 2% infection (above)! The flyer explaining the program to almond farmers is on the right.
2015: Thanks to your gifts for scholarships and education in Palestine, CORE reports they have attacked the almond wasp pest claiming over 50% of the crop with an education and training program that stemmed the losses for almond farmers. This has paved the way for an organic almond program in Palestine which will mean higher quality, more value, and be healthier for the environment and for those eating them. This pest was identified by farmers as their first priority from CORE.
DETAILS: Trainings were conducted in 6 villages with the largest concentrations of almond farmers. Special traps were designed and made to monitor the almond seed wasp in 12 demo fields chosen in different geographical areas. Extension made regular training and monitoring visits. The data farmers gathered identified the best control methods and the exact time for intervention. A brochure was printed and distributed to all active almond farmers detailing the information and advice learned for controlling the pest. 100 farmers were reached directly with training and there were an additional 550 indirect farmer beneficiaries, for a total of 650 beneficiaries of the educational almond wasp project of CORE. Thank you for your help and concern.
Dr. Samer Jarrar with almond farmer Mohammad Irsheid in 2015