Syria’s traditional glassblowing is a millennia-old artisanal craft, especially prominent in Damascus, that stands as one of the world’s oldest and most influential glassmaking traditions.

The origins of Syrian glassblowing trace back over two thousand years to the Phoenician era, with evidence of glass production in the region as early as the 1st century BC and significant development during the Roman period.

Damascus, in particular, became a renowned center for glass production, especially during the Islamic Golden Age, when Syrian artisans developed unique techniques and styles that shaped glassmaking across the Islamic world and beyond .

The Levantine region’s innovation in glassblowing technology revolutionized the craft, enabling the mass production of glass objects that were highly valued in both trade and daily life .

The craft’s historical evolution reflects a synthesis of cultural influences, including Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods, each contributing to the refinement of techniques and the expansion of artistic expression.

Syrian glassblowers became known for their ability to create a wide variety of items—vases, plates, decorative pieces, and traditional hookah bottles—often featuring intricate designs, vibrant colors, and motifs inspired by nature and Islamic art .

These objects were not only functional but also served as symbols of artistic achievement and cultural identity, with their production and use deeply embedded in local customs and celebrations .

Glassblowing in Syria is more than a technical skill; it is a vital form of artistic and cultural expression.

The craft embodies the creativity, resilience, and identity of the Syrian people, with skills and knowledge traditionally passed down through generations, often within family-run workshops .

Artisans like Yassin Arab, who learned the craft from his father, and veteran glassblower Hussein Najjar, with over 40 years of experience, exemplify the dedication and passion that sustain this heritage.

Najjar describes glassblowing as a form of plastic art, emphasizing the imaginative freedom and personal expression it allows, while Arab’s return to his workshop in Urem Al-Kubra after conflict demonstrates the deep personal and cultural connection artisans have with their work .

Traditional Syrian glassblowing techniques have remained largely unchanged for centuries, preserving the authenticity and integrity of the craft.

Artisans typically use recycled glass, which is melted at high temperatures and then shaped by blowing, rotating, molding, and decorating to achieve the desired forms and patterns.

The process requires years of training and practice, combining manual dexterity with artistic vision to produce both functional and decorative pieces .

The use of recycled materials not only reflects resourcefulness but also connects the craft to contemporary concerns about sustainability .

The cultural significance of glassblowing in Syria extends beyond the objects themselves.

The craft is a living link to the country’s historical craftsmanship, serving as a symbol of continuity and resilience amid changing social and political landscapes.

It fosters community bonds, cultural pride, and a sense of identity among both artisans and the wider public .

The transmission of skills from master to apprentice is central to the survival of the tradition, with each generation contributing to the evolution and preservation of the craft .

However, the current status of traditional glassblowing in Syria is precarious.

The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on the craft, leading to the destruction of workshops, displacement of artisans, and severe disruption of artisanal communities.

Many skilled craftsmen have been forced to abandon their work, flee the country, or shift to other forms of employment due to economic hardship and instability .

This has resulted in a marked decline in the number of practicing glassblowers and a significant loss of traditional skills and knowledge.

In Damascus, fewer than 100 craftsmen are currently believed to be actively practicing traditional glassblowing techniques, a dramatic reduction from previous generations .

Despite these challenges, there are signs of resilience and revival.

Following the liberation of areas such as Urem Al-Kubra in Aleppo, some artisans have returned to their workshops, determined to restore and continue the glassblowing tradition.

These efforts focus on maintaining traditional techniques and materials, which are essential for the authenticity and survival of the craft .

The commitment of artisans like Yassin Arab and Hussein Najjar, who stress the importance of passing their skills to future generations, highlights the enduring value placed on this ancient heritage .

The urgent need to protect and revitalize Syrian traditional glassblowing has been recognized at the international level.

In December 2023, UNESCO inscribed Syria’s traditional glassblowing on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding .

This designation underscores the critical threats facing the craft, including the ongoing conflict, economic difficulties, and the rapid decline in the number of skilled practitioners.

UNESCO’s recognition is not merely symbolic; it serves as a call to action to raise global awareness, mobilize support for preservation efforts, and promote the transmission of traditional skills to new generations .

UNESCO’s safeguarding measures aim to support the remaining artisans, provide training and education for young people, document traditional techniques, and foster international cooperation to ensure the survival of this vital aspect of Syrian culture .

The listing also highlights the importance of integrating cultural heritage preservation into broader recovery and development strategies, recognizing that supporting artisans and promoting their work can contribute to local economic revitalization and cultural tourism in post-conflict Syria .

The inclusion of Syrian traditional glassblowing on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding reflects both the craft’s extraordinary historical and artistic value and the severity of the threats it faces.

The loss of skilled artisans, the risk of knowledge disappearing, and the destruction of workshops all contribute to the urgency of preservation efforts .

UNESCO’s involvement is intended to ensure that future generations can continue to learn, practice, and appreciate the art of Syrian glassblowing, thereby sustaining a unique and irreplaceable element of the world’s cultural heritage .

In summary, Syria’s traditional glassblowing is a craft of profound historical depth and cultural significance, especially in Damascus, where it has flourished for over two thousand years.

It represents a living tradition of artistic excellence, technical mastery, and cultural identity, passed down through generations of dedicated artisans.

Today, the craft faces existential threats due to conflict, economic hardship, and the decline in skilled practitioners, prompting urgent safeguarding measures by UNESCO.

The resilience of Syrian glassblowers and the international recognition of their craft offer hope for the preservation and revitalization of this unique heritage for future generations .

Syria’s traditional glassblowing is a millennia-old artisanal craft, especially prominent in Damascus, that stands as one of the world’s oldest and most influential glassmaking traditions.

The origins of Syrian glassblowing trace back over two thousand years to the Phoenician era, with evidence of glass production in the region as early as the 1st century BC and significant development during the Roman period.

Damascus, in particular, became a renowned center for glass production, especially during the Islamic Golden Age, when Syrian artisans developed unique techniques and styles that shaped glassmaking across the Islamic world and beyond .

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Content: Art of glassblowing returns again in Aleppo countryside liberated from terrorism

The town of Urem Al-Kubra in Aleppo province in northern Syria has historically been famous for its skilled glassblowing craftsmen. The war considerably affected this traditional craft inherited from our ancestors, but after the liberation of the city from terrorism, some artisans have brought it back to life. The artisan, Yassin Arab learned the glassblowing craft from his father when he was a child, and after the town was liberated from terrorism, he returned to his small facility, where he worked to restore it and start working again. Arab does not hide his enormous passion for the craft of glassblowing and his belief in the need to preserve this ancient Syrian heritage. Regarding the working mechanism, the artisan explained to SANA that he uses recycled glass, melts it again in the oven at high temperature, and then chooses a specific shape for its manufacture, whether hookah bottles, vases, plates, small jugs, fish houses for decoration, decorated cups and antiques of different sizes. After that, t he piece is blown, rotated and processed by the artisan until it takes its final shape using white and brown colors, and once the manufacturing of the product is finished, it is decorated and colored to give it the required aesthetics. For his part, Hussein Najjar noted that he learned the craft of blowing glass manually since he was young and has been working in this field for 40 years. He added that he is able to make any shape or glass container, using his imagination, and considered that the art of glassblowing is one of the types of plastic arts. Traditional glassblowing is a profession that dates back more than two thousand years (since the time of the Phoenicians) and was included in December 2023 by UNESCO on the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity that needs urgent preservation. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

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Content: British Museum displays newly restored ancient glass vessels damaged in Beirut explosion

Discoveries made during the reconstruction process shed light on glass production in Lebanon 2,000 years ago

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Eight ancient glass vessels, damaged in the 2020 Beirut port explosion, have just gone on display at the British Museum in London as part of the exhibition Shattered Glass of Beirut.

The vessels, dating back to the Roman, Islamic and Byzantine periods, include bowls, a flask, beaker, jug and cup that were meticulously pieced back together as part of an ongoing collaborative restoration project between the British Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut, which began last year.

On August 2020, a stockpile of ammonium nitrate exploded at the port of Beirut in Lebanon, killing at least 218 people, injuring 7,000, displacing 300,000 and causing $15 billion worth of damage.

The explosion shattered the AUB museum’s windows, doors and a case containing 74 glass vessels, shattering all but two pieces.

As part of an emergency recovery campaign, 18 vessels have been pieced back together. Conservators at the British Museum and the AUB museum hope that at least half of the remaining 46 objects can also be restored soon.

Over three months, experts from the Archaeological Museum and the British Museum laboriously sorted through fragments of the broken vessels and sensitively reassembled them.

Conservators at both institutions made the decision to reconstruct the vessels to be structurally sound but leave the visible damage caused by the explosion. Lighting will be used in the display to highlight the flaws and cracks in the glass, which have now become part of the history of the ancient objects.

“Reconstructing these fragmented glass vessels one tiny bit at a time, helped to reunite, to recognise their heritage value and to build a sense of community,” said Nadine Panayot, curator of AUB's Archaeological Museum.

“To see these shattered and delicate vessels reassembled not only sparked a healing process, but also inspired me to hope for a better future.”

Playing footage of the reconstruction process alongside recorded interviews with the conservators, Shattered Glass of Beirut will demonstrate the emotional impact of the explosion, and the emergency response to it.

“The footage of the Beirut explosion came as a huge shock, and I replayed the images repeatedly in disbelief,” said Zeina Klink-Hoppe, curator at the British Museum.

“Working with colleagues at the British Museum and at the Archaeological Museum in Beirut to piece together some of the artefacts that were shattered in the explosion has been an emotional journey, but also a meaningful small step in the preservation of Beirut’s heritage and pride and in the recovery of its citizens as they gradually rebuild their lives.”

During the reconstruction process, individual fragments underwent scientific analysis at the British Museum and University College London’s Institute of Archaeology. Non-destructive scanning techniques revealed new information about the provenance of glass production and the nature of the glass materials, along with interesting manufacturing details.

The vessels were made at sites along the eastern Mediterranean coast — six were produced using early glass-blowing technology, revealing experimentation in the function and form of the pieces. Two others date to the early Islamic and late Byzantine periods, and were possibly imported to Lebanon from present-day Syria or Egypt.

Some of the vessels revealed signs of recycling in their production, with craftspeople possibly using older glass to make new objects.

While experts have found it fascinating to identify the similarities between today's glass recycling techniques and those from 2,000 years ago, the discoveries have also shed light on the habits and practices of glass producers and consumers of Lebanon in the first century BC.

The development of glass-blowing technology in the Levant enabled the mass production of glass objects, revolutionising production of the material in the region.

The Shattered Glass of Beirut exhibition will be on show at The Asahi Shimbun Displays, British Museum, until October 23.

British Museum Egyptian hieroglyphs exhibition - in pictures

Updated: August 29, 2022, 3:05 PM
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Title:

Content: Bella Hadid flashes her toned figure in shorts and a cropped sports top while showing off her creative side as she learns the art of glassblowing

It appears Bella Hadid has found a new hobby that showcases her artistic side.

On Sunday, the catwalk queen took to her Instagram page and posted a step-by-step video of herself making her own glass piece, using classic glassblowing technique in a workshop.

Considering the extreme temperatures it takes to make glass from beginning to end, Bella opted to keep her cloths to a minimum and wore skimpy white shorts with a cropped purple sports top.

Showing her creative side: Bella Hadid, 25, learned the classic art of glassblowing to make her own glass piece and posting a video on her Instagram page on Sunday

Glass is made from the process of heating sand to an extremely high temperature so that it turns into a moldable liquid. When it solidifies, a piece of glass is formed in whatever shape the creator has molded it into.

In the video, viewers will find Bella at the stage where she's working to shape the molten red hot material.

She can be seen sitting down and jabbing a long, sharp wrench-like tool with her scorching hot material, which was attached to a hollow blow pole about three feet long.

She was concerned with safety and wore goggles to protect her eyes.

Shaping: The video shows Bella at the stage where she's working to shape the molten red hot material that is attached to a blow pole

Working it: An instructor can be heard voicing a couple of tips as she spins that object around to the point where a small hole begins to form

Dose of heat: By the end of the first clip, Bella gets up and gives the hot material another dose of intense heat by placing it into a fiery furnace

An instructor can be heard voicing a couple of tips as she spins that object round and round to the point where a small hole begins to form.

By the end of the first clip, Bella gets up and gives the hot material another dose of intense heat by placing it into the fiery furnace.

For the next phase, the instructor assists Bella and slowly spins the blow pole while she sands down the still-molten red piece with two black blocks.

The heat is so intense that you can see steam floating into the air as they continue the sanding-down process.

Honing it: For the next phase, the instructor assists Bella and slowly spins the blow pole while she sands down the still molten red piece with two black blocks

Team work: Bella and the instructor work together to begin molding the molten hot object into shape with those two black blocks

Trippy: Bella gave her 53.7 million Instagram fans and followers a look at how her glass piece is looking at this stage of the process

More intense heat: At one point, the Washington, DC, native can be seen kneeling down using a small propane tank to heat up the object to make a few more changes

At one point, the Washington, DC, native can be seen kneeling down using a small propane tank to heat up the object to make a few more changes.

'Oh yeah, that's the one right there,' a man's voice from behind the camera can be heard saying as they continue to spin the object while jabbing it with that sharp tool.

As the process continues, Bella sits down, spinning the blow pole back and forth as it rests in a round plate that she holds with her right hand.

'It's a perfect shape,' the instructors says in encouragement.

'Here it is, ladies and gentlemen,' the man continues just as Bella gets up to blow into the pole to expand the molten hot material out to form some sort of glassware or vase.

Example: The catwalk queen drew out the shape of her piece she was trying to attain with chalk

Rounding it out: As the process continues, Bella sits down and spins the blow pole back and forth as it rests in a round plate that she holds with her right hand

Major phase: 'Here it is, ladies and gentlemen,' the man from behind the camera continues as Bella starts blowing into the pole

Expanding: Bella then process of blowing into the pole to expand the molten material out to form some sort of glassware

Old technique: Glassblowing is the practice of shaping a mass of glass that has been softened by heat by blowing air into it through a tube, or in this case a pole

The final clips shows a closeup of Bella spinning the glass while adding a few intricate touches to the piece with a prong-like tool.

Glassblowing is the practice of shaping a mass of glass that has been softened by heat by blowing air into it through a tube

It was was invented by Syrian craftsmen in the area of Sidon, Aleppo, Hama and Palmyra in the 1st century BC, according to Britannica.

The technique has remained essentially the same to the present day.

Ancient art form: Glassblowing was was invented by Syrian craftsmen in the area of Sidon, Aleppo, Hama and Palmyra in the 1st century bc, according to Britannica

Lovin' it: The glassblowing technique has remained basically the same to the present day

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Bella Hadid flashes her toned figure in shorts and a crop top while learning the art of glassblowing

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The Levantine region’s innovation in glassblowing technology revolutionized the craft, enabling the mass production of glass objects that were highly valued in both trade and daily life .

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Content: Wednesday , August 9 2023
Jordi Savall (second from left) and members of Orient Lux (photo credit: Philippe Matsas)

Music Review: Orpheus 21 – ‘Oriente Lux (Dialogue of Souls)’ with Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI

Orient Lux captures a live concert by musicians from Syria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Morocco and Turkey, working with early music master Jordi Savall, musicians from Savall’s ensemble Hespèrion XXI, and Syrian musicians Waed Bouhassoun and Moslem Rahal. It’s a program of traditional music on the theme of “paths of exile and hope” and part of Orpheus 21, a collaborative project that began in the second half of the 2010s to support professional musicians from the Middle and Near East who were refugees and immigrants in Europe.

The program captured at this 2019 concert in Paris, say the liner notes, was “intended as a homage to the victims of the war in Syria which, at the time of writing, is entering its twelfth year, with a terrible toll of human suffering and more than 570,000 dead.”

The tracks feature songs and chants and instrumentals with a variety of instruments from various traditions: string instruments like the oud (lute), kamanjah (gourd fiddle), and Moroccan lotar, to name just a few, along with zithers, wind instruments like the Armenian duduk, and percussion – even tablas make an appearance. Savall writes that the project’s aim was to give “a voice to this diversity of age-old musical legacies which are preserved in the memory of all these extraordinary musicians.”

The music cramming these two CDs derives from countries far and wide, from Syria to Afghanistan, Israel to Greece, Morocco to Iraq. The moods and rhythms range from somber to celebratory, hypnotic to aggressive. The set includes a plethora of impassioned and expert performances: two Kurdish chants sung, shouted and ululated by Ruşan Filiztek, one of them accompanied only by percussion; traditional chants featuring the remarkable vocalist Rebal Alkhodari; a chant from Aleppo led by Meriem Moubine and backed, like some of the other tracks, by “tous les musiciens” – and many more, a true world-music community, gathered for one night in one room.

An especially beautiful moment on Disc 2 comes with “Ya Mariam el bekr – chant à la Vierge de Syrie” sung in an intently understated style by Syrian singer and oud player Waed Bouhassoun, a founding instructor-performer of Orpheus 21. Americans tend to associate Middle Eastern and “Arab” countries with Islam, but religious feeling of any persuasion can blossom in the culture, and the music, of any land.

Crossing borders with Orpheus 21 and ‘Orient Lux’

A selection from Michael Praetorius’s Terpsichore – a compendium published in 1612 of instrumental dances from France and elsewhere in Europe – might seem out of place here, but sounds surprisingly at home. It’s worth remembering how much musical cross-pollination took place between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East over the centuries. The word for “lute,” for example – an instrument familiar to listeners of early music from Europe – derives from “l’oud,” French for “the oud,” an instrument from medieval Islamic tradition. Another example: The melody of a track titled “As for tall – chant du Liban” by Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife is very reminiscent of a Hebrew song I know. You may find linkages and references and resonances of your own.

One track near the end of Disc 2 distills the spirit of this world-music project in six and a half minutes. Traditional chants and sounds from Greece, Turkey, Bangladesh and Morocco link up as a single “song” with soloists joined by the entire ensemble.

It’s often said that music can bridge cultural and national divides. Here is a manifestation of that capability in as close to literal form as you’re likely to find.

Orient Lux is out August 18 on Alia Vox.

video?

About Jon Sobel

Jon Sobel is Publisher and Executive Editor of Blogcritics as well as lead editor of the Culture & Society section. As a writer he contributes most often to Music, where he covers classical music (old and new) and other genres, and Culture, where he reviews NYC theater. Through Oren Hope Marketing and Copywriting at http://www.orenhope.com/ you can hire him to write or edit whatever marketing or journalistic materials your heart desires. Jon also writes the blog Park Odyssey at http://parkodyssey.blogspot.com/ where he is on a mission to visit every park in New York City. He has also been a part-time working musician, including as lead singer, songwriter, and bass player for Whisperado.

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The craft’s historical evolution reflects a synthesis of cultural influences, including Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods, each contributing to the refinement of techniques and the expansion of artistic expression.

Syrian glassblowers became known for their ability to create a wide variety of items—vases, plates, decorative pieces, and traditional hookah bottles—often featuring intricate designs, vibrant colors, and motifs inspired by nature and Islamic art .

These objects were not only functional but also served as symbols of artistic achievement and cultural identity, with their production and use deeply embedded in local customs and celebrations .

Glassblowing in Syria is more than a technical skill; it is a vital form of artistic and cultural expression.

Glassblowing in Syria is more than a technical skill; it is a vital form of artistic and cultural expression.

The craft embodies the creativity, resilience, and identity of the Syrian people, with skills and knowledge traditionally passed down through generations, often within family-run workshops .

Artisans like Yassin Arab, who learned the craft from his father, and veteran glassblower Hussein Najjar, with over 40 years of experience, exemplify the dedication and passion that sustain this heritage.

Najjar describes glassblowing as a form of plastic art, emphasizing the imaginative freedom and personal expression it allows, while Arab’s return to his workshop in Urem Al-Kubra after conflict demonstrates the deep personal and cultural connection artisans have with their work .

Traditional Syrian glassblowing techniques have remained largely unchanged for centuries, preserving the authenticity and integrity of the craft.

Traditional Syrian glassblowing techniques have remained largely unchanged for centuries, preserving the authenticity and integrity of the craft.

Traditional Syrian glassblowing techniques have remained largely unchanged for centuries, preserving the authenticity and integrity of the craft.

Artisans typically use recycled glass, which is melted at high temperatures and then shaped by blowing, rotating, molding, and decorating to achieve the desired forms and patterns.

Artisans typically use recycled glass, which is melted at high temperatures and then shaped by blowing, rotating, molding, and decorating to achieve the desired forms and patterns.

The process requires years of training and practice, combining manual dexterity with artistic vision to produce both functional and decorative pieces .

The use of recycled materials not only reflects resourcefulness but also connects the craft to contemporary concerns about sustainability .

The cultural significance of glassblowing in Syria extends beyond the objects themselves.

The cultural significance of glassblowing in Syria extends beyond the objects themselves.

The cultural significance of glassblowing in Syria extends beyond the objects themselves.

The craft is a living link to the country’s historical craftsmanship, serving as a symbol of continuity and resilience amid changing social and political landscapes.

The craft is a living link to the country’s historical craftsmanship, serving as a symbol of continuity and resilience amid changing social and political landscapes.

It fosters community bonds, cultural pride, and a sense of identity among both artisans and the wider public .

The transmission of skills from master to apprentice is central to the survival of the tradition, with each generation contributing to the evolution and preservation of the craft .

However, the current status of traditional glassblowing in Syria is precarious.

However, the current status of traditional glassblowing in Syria is precarious.

However, the current status of traditional glassblowing in Syria is precarious.

The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on the craft, leading to the destruction of workshops, displacement of artisans, and severe disruption of artisanal communities.

The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on the craft, leading to the destruction of workshops, displacement of artisans, and severe disruption of artisanal communities.

The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on the craft, leading to the destruction of workshops, displacement of artisans, and severe disruption of artisanal communities.

Many skilled craftsmen have been forced to abandon their work, flee the country, or shift to other forms of employment due to economic hardship and instability .

Title:

Content: Recommended

Engaging views and analysis from outside contributors on the issues affecting society and faith today.

CP VOICES do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s).

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The Syriacs of Northeast Syria: The last exodus and new beginning

Eleven years ago, I had to leave Hasaka, Syria, my hometown. I came from a large family of mixed Syriac and Greek Orthodox, consisting of five uncles, three aunts, and 25 cousins. Between 2012 and 2015, all of them, like many other Christians from Northeast Syria, were forced to leave the city. I was the first to depart because I actively participated in the Syrian uprising of 2011. At the age of 19, I was arrested, and upon my release, the fear of repeating the harsh experience of imprisonment made it impossible for me to continue living in Syria.

Although the rest of my family had no involvement in politics, they too had to leave. This was the fate of tens of thousands of Syriac and other Christian families in Northeast Syria.

The Syriacs played a crucial role in the establishment of the relatively new civilian cities in Northeast Syria. They transformed these areas, which were once desert lands for the Arabian Bedouins, into thriving urban centers. The Syriacs fled the Saifo Genocides that targeted our community in what is now known as northern Turkey. This genocide occurred in 1915, which, although not too long ago, still shapes the identity of the Syriacs in my community. We continue to identify ourselves with the names of the cities we came from in northern Turkey, such as Mirdaliyeh (from Mardin) or Askhinyeh (from Azekh) — even the younger generation that was born and raised in Syria remains connected to our roots in today’s northern Turkey.

History will remember 2011 as the year when the Syriac community in the region witnessed their last exodus as the numbers of Syriac have dramatically dwindled, with tens of thousands of families immigrating to Europe. The neighborhoods of the Syriacs in northeast Syrian cities were emptied of their indigenous population, and the cities saw a significant transfer of wealth from the Syriacs to the Kurds and Arabs.

Considering the current situation in the region, it is fair to say that the presence of the Syriacs, who played a major role in founding urban life in Northeast Syria, has come to an end.

This pattern of mass migration applies to most Christian communities in Syria. However, the exodus of the Syriacs was particularly significant due to their substantial impact on trade, education, and industry in Northeast Syria.

Although it is unlikely that the Syriac community will return to Northeast Syria or flourish again in the region, there is still some hope to preserve the Syriac culture. The majority of Syriacs who emigrated from Syria after 2012 ended up in the same European cities where an older Syriac immigrant community had settled since the days of the Syafo Genocide in 1915. This older Syriac community, along with the second and third generations of Syriac immigrants, continues to preserve the Syriac language and culture. Moreover, they have been able to establish political parties and cultural groups aimed at keeping the Syriac culture alive. For example, some members of my family who never spoke our indigenous language (Syriac) in Syria, started learning it for the first time in Sweden!

As a person who values public work and considers my political beliefs an important part of my identity, I regret that my community is not politically engaged and lacks a significant interest in advocating for its political and cultural rights. When I first learned about the Philos Project, I was amazed to find an organization that not only focuses on providing humanitarian assistance to Christians in the Middle East or helping them obtain visas to leave the region but also offers them a platform to discover their political rights and explore tools that can help them make an impact in their respective regions.

At the Philos Project, we are doing what we can to empower the indigenous Christian communities to create an impact. However, ultimately, the responsibility lies with the communities themselves, particularly their intellectual leaders. Throughout history, it was intellectuals and consistent organizing efforts that brought back the Jews to their holy lands and led to the creation of Israel, one of the most successful countries in the Middle East. The return of the Jews to Israel was mainly the result of the work of great minds rather than the power of bullets. Similarly, the Syriacs in the diaspora today have all the means to organize themselves and work towards the dream of returning to Syria; not as an inferior minority, but as contributors to a region exhausted by years of conflict, economic crises, and environmental challenges.

A community that has successfully preserved its culture, language and imparted knowledge of its roots to the younger generation is certainly capable of changing the course of history if it possesses the will to do so. And as Theodor Herzl once said, “If you will it, it is no dream.”

Hadeel Oueis is a Philos Project Senior Fellow.

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Saturday 13 November 2021 - 03:24

Water Scarcity Reaches Crisis Point in Northern Syria

Story Code : 963360
“Before, whoever lived far from the river could dig for groundwater, and they used to find water. But now no matter how deep they dig, they can’t find any source of water.”

Having lost access to groundwater sources, Sheikh Hussein explained that he and others in the area are now depending solely on the Euphrates river, which is near his home.

However, the river has also been dwindling to “critically low” levels this year, according to a report by the World Food Program.

More than five million people depend on Syria’s longest river for their water source and livelihoods, with the electricity produced by the hydroelectric dams on the river supplying about three million people.

Sheikh Hussein stated that, because of the low water levels in the dams, he and his family are currently only receiving about two hours of electricity a day.

A combination of rising temperatures and decreased levels of precipitation have led to the reduced water levels in the Euphrates.

Another factor perceived locally to be affecting the water levels is the numerous dam projects upstream in Turkey, part of a decades-long development project to build 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric power plants on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

‘Another layer of suffering’

According to a project manager working for Mercy Corps in northeast Syria, who asked to remain anonymous because of security reasons, Tishreen dam, one of the two main dams on the Euphrates, is 47 centimeters away from reaching “dead level”.

He explained that each day, the water level drops by a centimeter, meaning the dam is 47 days away from going out of service.

“The cost of bringing [the dam] back into service will be massive,” he said. “As the turbines stop totally, the existing water will flood all the electricity equipment. And due to the conflict … there is no Plan B, and there are no diesel generators to discharge the water from the tunnels to protect the electricity or electrical equipment.”

With fuel prices almost tripling this year in Syria, water has also become much more expensive to pump. Mercy Corp’s project manager said this has “led to an increase in the cost of the agricultural operation, and ultimately [increased] the price of crops and goods such as bread”.

He added that, because of the water crisis, many people now “depend on the stagnant water in the irrigation canals”, which has “led to the spread of waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea and intestinal infection”.

As well as illness, he stated that collecting water from the canals can be risky. “There were seven cases [in summer 2021] of people drowning in these irrigation canals when they were trying to get water. All those people are women and children.”

After 10 years of conflict, the project manager explained that water scarcity is adding “another layer to the people’s suffering in the region”.

This comes following a report from 13 organizations in the region, warning that urgent action is needed to combat the severe water crisis.

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference [COP26] in Glasgow comes to an end on Friday, the project manager said he hopes the international community will invest more in sustainable programs and alleviate the suffering caused by a combination of climate change, economic instability, conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unaffordable water

In contrast, northeast Syria, where the main water source is the Euphrates river, northwest Syria’s main water sources are ground wells and springs...

Jamal al-Ali, a former engineer’s assistant who fled to Idlib province from Damascus during the conflict, told Al Jazeera that electricity and water supply in his area is intermittent and expensive...

“We get water from privately owned wells,” he said, explaining 20 liters costs $60, an amount unaffordable for many, and exacerbated by the significant depreciation of the Syrian pound. “For drinking water, we buy filtered water from the markets.”

He also explained the only electricity supply they currently have comes from solar panels installed on the roof of their house, a common sight in the area.

“We have solar power panels with batteries just to power LED light bulbs,” said al-Ali. “The batteries are very expensive to buy, so we don’t have electricity strong enough to make a fridge or a TV work.

“Thank god water is provided. If there is money, there is water. If there is no money, there is no water,” he said.

Dire consequences for the future

Engineer Jamal Diban, the head of the general directorate of drinking water in Idlib, said water is pumped from underground wells and from springs in the area and is available “in most cities in the region”.

However, he added this drains the water supply and “requires a high cost to extract”.

Diban added the pumping stations are in need of rehabilitation, and the Public Establishment for Drinking Water “calls upon humanitarian organizations to help rehabilitate these stations”.

With air raids still ongoing in parts of northwest Syria, the conflict has and continues to affect infrastructure. “The bombing … keeps happening every once in a while,” said al-Ali.

According to Khaldoon A Mourad, a senior researcher in integrated water resources management from Syria, now residing in Sweden, “the conflict has damaged most of the infrastructure in some Syrian cities, and that [has] affected water quality and quantity”.

Mourad added a lack of funds and an unstable security situation are hampering rehabilitation efforts.

While some agreements do exist regarding transboundary water issues, Mourad emphasized that stakeholders and decision-makers in the region must “cooperate to find possible regional solutions regarding water scarcity”.

Mercy Corps’ project manager emphasized: “If the water level did not increase in the Euphrates, we will have a big crisis regarding the electricity and the infrastructure here in northeast Syria”.

When asked if there is hope for the future of water in Syria, al-Ali shook his head. “I don’t think there is a solution. It’s impossible.”
Comment

This has resulted in a marked decline in the number of practicing glassblowers and a significant loss of traditional skills and knowledge.

This has resulted in a marked decline in the number of practicing glassblowers and a significant loss of traditional skills and knowledge.

This has resulted in a marked decline in the number of practicing glassblowers and a significant loss of traditional skills and knowledge.

In Damascus, fewer than 100 craftsmen are currently believed to be actively practicing traditional glassblowing techniques, a dramatic reduction from previous generations .

Despite these challenges, there are signs of resilience and revival.

Despite these challenges, there are signs of resilience and revival.

Following the liberation of areas such as Urem Al-Kubra in Aleppo, some artisans have returned to their workshops, determined to restore and continue the glassblowing tradition.

Following the liberation of areas such as Urem Al-Kubra in Aleppo, some artisans have returned to their workshops, determined to restore and continue the glassblowing tradition.

Following the liberation of areas such as Urem Al-Kubra in Aleppo, some artisans have returned to their workshops, determined to restore and continue the glassblowing tradition.

These efforts focus on maintaining traditional techniques and materials, which are essential for the authenticity and survival of the craft .

The commitment of artisans like Yassin Arab and Hussein Najjar, who stress the importance of passing their skills to future generations, highlights the enduring value placed on this ancient heritage .

The urgent need to protect and revitalize Syrian traditional glassblowing has been recognized at the international level.

The urgent need to protect and revitalize Syrian traditional glassblowing has been recognized at the international level.

The urgent need to protect and revitalize Syrian traditional glassblowing has been recognized at the international level.

In December 2023, UNESCO inscribed Syria’s traditional glassblowing on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding .

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Content: You are here

Syria doubles pay for civil servants, military personnel

By AFP - Aug 16,2023 - Last updated at Aug 16,2023

DAMASCUS — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has decreed a 100 per cent pay rise for civil servants and pensioners while fuel subsidies were lifted in a country ravaged by 12 years of war.

The Syrian economy has been battered by the conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions since it began in 2011.

In two decrees issued late Tuesday, Assad doubled the salaries and pensions of those currently and formerly employed in the civil service and military, as well as contract workers.

Prior to the decision, the monthly salary of civil servants had been between around $10 and $25, depending on the Syrian pound's street value.

The presidential decrees also set the minimum monthly wage in the private sector at 185,940 Syrian pounds, or about $13 on the black market.

In a separate statement late Tuesday, the commerce ministry announced the total lifting of subsidies on petrol and a partial lifting of subsidies on fuel oil.

As a result the price of petrol has risen to 8,000 pounds from 3,000 previously, and fuel oil to 2,000 pounds from 700 previously, according to the ministry.

The Syrian pound was trading at around 14,300 to the US dollar on Wednesday, according to unofficial monitoring websites, compared with the official rate of 8,542.

The currency has lost most of its value since the start of the war, when it was worth 47 against the greenback.

Most of the population has been pushed into poverty, according to the United Nations.

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This designation underscores the critical threats facing the craft, including the ongoing conflict, economic difficulties, and the rapid decline in the number of skilled practitioners.

This designation underscores the critical threats facing the craft, including the ongoing conflict, economic difficulties, and the rapid decline in the number of skilled practitioners.

This designation underscores the critical threats facing the craft, including the ongoing conflict, economic difficulties, and the rapid decline in the number of skilled practitioners.

UNESCO’s recognition is not merely symbolic; it serves as a call to action to raise global awareness, mobilize support for preservation efforts, and promote the transmission of traditional skills to new generations .

UNESCO’s safeguarding measures aim to support the remaining artisans, provide training and education for young people, document traditional techniques, and foster international cooperation to ensure the survival of this vital aspect of Syrian culture .

The listing also highlights the importance of integrating cultural heritage preservation into broader recovery and development strategies, recognizing that supporting artisans and promoting their work can contribute to local economic revitalization and cultural tourism in post-conflict Syria .

The inclusion of Syrian traditional glassblowing on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding reflects both the craft’s extraordinary historical and artistic value and the severity of the threats it faces.

The loss of skilled artisans, the risk of knowledge disappearing, and the destruction of workshops all contribute to the urgency of preservation efforts .

UNESCO’s involvement is intended to ensure that future generations can continue to learn, practice, and appreciate the art of Syrian glassblowing, thereby sustaining a unique and irreplaceable element of the world’s cultural heritage .

In summary, Syria’s traditional glassblowing is a craft of profound historical depth and cultural significance, especially in Damascus, where it has flourished for over two thousand years.

It represents a living tradition of artistic excellence, technical mastery, and cultural identity, passed down through generations of dedicated artisans.

It represents a living tradition of artistic excellence, technical mastery, and cultural identity, passed down through generations of dedicated artisans.

Today, the craft faces existential threats due to conflict, economic hardship, and the decline in skilled practitioners, prompting urgent safeguarding measures by UNESCO.

Today, the craft faces existential threats due to conflict, economic hardship, and the decline in skilled practitioners, prompting urgent safeguarding measures by UNESCO.

Today, the craft faces existential threats due to conflict, economic hardship, and the decline in skilled practitioners, prompting urgent safeguarding measures by UNESCO.

The resilience of Syrian glassblowers and the international recognition of their craft offer hope for the preservation and revitalization of this unique heritage for future generations .


Global avocado consumption has surged from 2018 to 2023, with countries like New Zealand seeing sales rise by over 25% in a single year and Australia’s production increasing by 26% in 2023, resulting in a forecast of 22 avocados grown per person and supermarket prices dropping to around $1 each .

remains the world’s largest consumer, importing about 80% of its avocados from Michoacán, Mexico, which underscores the country’s reliance on Mexican supply and the volatility caused by trade disruptions .

Kenya’s avocado exports have grown rapidly, with shipments rising from 3,406 in 2017 to 9,990 in 2020 and export volumes nearly doubling, driven by high international demand and resulting in local price surges and shortages .

The global market is projected to keep expanding, with demand outpacing supply for decades, especially as new markets like India and China emerge .

Economically, avocado production has become a billion-dollar industry in Mexico, supporting about 300,000 workers in Michoacán alone and offering profit margins for exports to the U.S.

that are over 50% higher than domestic sales .

Kenya, now Africa’s largest exporter, has seen job creation and increased income for smallholder farmers, with exports to Europe accounting for about 5% of the continent’s Hass avocado imports .

However, market volatility can harm smaller producers, as seen in Australia where oversupply has forced some farmers to let fruit rot due to unprofitably low prices .

Environmentally, the expansion of avocado farming is linked to deforestation, especially in Mexico’s Michoacán region, where forest land is converted to orchards, threatening biodiversity and releasing stored carbon .

High water use is another major concern; avocado cultivation is water-intensive, straining resources in drought-prone areas of Mexico and California, and prompting calls for efficient irrigation and water catchment systems .

Kenya and other countries have implemented export restrictions and promoted

Global avocado consumption has surged from 2018 to 2023, with countries like New Zealand seeing sales rise by over 25% in a single year and Australia’s production increasing by 26% in 2023, resulting in a forecast of 22 avocados grown per person and supermarket prices dropping to around $1 each .

Title:

Content:   • Home

Gardener reveals brilliant hack to get garden necessity without spending a dime: ‘Can’t beat free’

“My avocado tree loves them.”

Photo Credit: TikTok

A gardening content creator recently shared a tip with her 1,400 TikTok followers, informing them about where they can find free soil fertilizer.

@marcylovesplants Can’t beat free 🤣🤣 #garden #gardentok #fyp #foryou #gardening #gardensoftiktok #oklahoma #gardenersoftiktok #planttok #plantsoftiktok #freegardeningtips #starbucks #coffee ♬ In The Forest (Acoustic Indie No Copyright) – Instrumental – Lesfm & Olexy

The scoop

“Can’t beat free,” Marcy (@marcylovesplants) captioned her video. In the video, she explained that she gets free coffee grounds from a local coffee shop and sprinkles them all over her garden beds.

“You can either add them to your compost or straight to the garden,” she said.

How it’s helping

According to HGTV, coffee grounds have been found to have some antimicrobial properties and can suppress some crop diseases in research conditions (although the author doubted that they would be as effective outside the lab).

As far as acting as a fertilizer, coffee grounds are high in nitrogen, which does improve soil fertility, but they may also harm certain plants by acidifying the soil and suppressing certain kinds of growth.

The article said that coffee grounds, when used as compost, can improve yields of plants like soybeans, cabbage, and sugar beets, while harming geraniums, alfalfa, and others.

“The effects of coffee grounds on seeds and plants is variable, unreliable and tough to call,” the author wrote. The safest way to use coffee grounds in the garden, they concluded, is to add small amounts of them to the compost.

In a broader sense, gardening — whether you use coffee grounds or not — is a great way to improve your physical and mental health, save money, and reduce your reliance on mass-produced, globally shipped produce, which comes with big environmental drawbacks.

Although it is difficult to assess precisely, one study estimates that shipping accounts for 19% of all planet-overheating emissions from the food industry.

What everyone’s saying

“My avocado tree loves them,” one commenter on Marcy’s TikTok video wrote. “Works great for bugs too!”

“Very cool!” wrote another.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.

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Content: Columnists

Let’s aim at powering Kenya to top of global superfoods exports table

The global trade agenda is changing quickly from where product and price dominated the conversation to where a company’s values and purpose are intertwined and a big part of the decision to buy products.

In the international market, Kenya now takes its place as the largest avocado exporter in Africa.

Imports of Hass avocado into Europe alone last year were approximately 728,000 tonnes, and Kenyan exports accounted for 40,000 tonnes, about five percent.

But what’s our competitive advantage with other producing countries and why should consumers favour our products over others?

The world is demanding that businesses demonstrate values and purpose aligned to more than just products to climate action, sustainability, and quality agricultural practices and that we are good corporate citizens.

Despite the agricultural business complexities, we have many Kenyan companies doing the right thing and doing it well.

We need to publicise this well, whether we are the private sector, public sector, academia, or national branding agents.

This is how to explain what sets us apart. As superfood producers, we should not plant our crops in sensitive ecosystems and don’t abstract irrigation water from fragile water sources.

Firms need to invest heavily in irrigation and green technology-based systems to mitigate the worst impacts of drought.

Countries such as Israel, Australia, and the United Kingdom have done it.

Companies can build dams and fill them through natural runoff.

Still, superfood production is much more multi-dimensional than just water; it is also about being able to answer the call for climate action, amongst other vital topics.

In Kenya, we have a conducive environment to competitively and sustainably grow superfoods, including fruits and nuts such as Avocados, Macadamia, and blueberries, among others.

The superfoods bid may sound ambitious, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

Still, we must be committed to undertaking this in a manner that enshrines the commitment to quality, sustainability and traceability.

How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

What crises have happened on the global avocado market in the recent years?

prices falling sharply
oversupply of avocados in Australia

How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

What crises have happened on the global avocado market in the recent years?

prices falling sharply
oversupply of avocados in Australia

remains the world’s largest consumer, importing about 80% of its avocados from Michoacán, Mexico, which underscores the country’s reliance on Mexican supply and the volatility caused by trade disruptions .

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Content: Following the imposition of a temporary ban on the importation of avocados from Mexico, the United States has lifted the ban, and importation of the fruit resumes on Monday. The ban was placed on Friday, February 11, after a US fruit inspector working in the fields of Michoacan in Mexico was verbally abused and threatened with death.

The US government said the safety of Americans working in other countries is very paramount and that the Mexican government cooperated fully to resolve the crisis and ensure the safety of service personnel operating in Mexico.

“The safety of USDA employees simply doing their jobs is of paramount importance,” the US Department of Agriculture said. “USDA is appreciative of the positive, collaborative relationship between the United States and Mexico that made resolution of this issue possible in a timely manner.”

Michoacan exports 80% of its avocado production to the United States and is the only region approved by the US to export the fruit to America. Annual exports come close to $3 billion and an avocado exported into the US now costs an average of $1.43, an increase of 11% above its price in 2021.

The Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers said a security department will be set up to facilitate the export of the fruit to the United States. The specifics of the plan were not released by the association representing 29,000 avocado farmers as well as 65 packing centers in Mexico.

“With this decision, we ensure the export of the fruit and give economic certainty to farmers and laborers,” said Michoacan state governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla who expressed joy that the ban was lifted.

The lifting of sanctions allays fears that avocados would not be available for the Super Bowl event and the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States.

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Content: SAN DIEGO — San Diego County is producing fewer avocados, according to its annual crop report. Farmers are having to deal with climate change issues and rising costs.

“It’s been pretty much a ride, but there’s been highs and lows,” Ben Holtz, owner of California Avocados Direct, told FOX 5 Friday.

Ben Holtz is a fourth-generation avocado farmer at the business. On 100 acres of land, the company has thousands of trees growing 19 different kinds of avocados.

But recent heat waves are making farming harder.

“Once you get over 100, they are really stressing; 108, they are tremendously stressing,” Holtz said, showing an avocado that has been sunburned. “They burn and all these little tender new growth leaves, they just shrivel and torch up. It’s like somebody took a blowtorch and a flame right to them.”

“There’s a period where after a heat spell, you got seven days until you get to hear the rain happen,” Holtz continued. “And the rain is where all the little tender fruit that the tree wants to release will start dropping on the ground.”

It has been a loss of thousands of dollars for them.

“Sometimes it’s 10% of what the tree is holding, it can be very significant,” Holtz said. “It’s a hard thing to swallow but you have to work with the highs and lows.”

Burnet Wohlford, owner of Heritage Ranch, has three farms: two in Escondido and one in Valley Center. He has hundreds of acres between the properties, growing avocadoes, grapefruit, dragon fruit, lemons and limes. He says he lost more than 60% of his avocados in 2021 due to the heat.

“We need to make the business climate a lot easier to do business here in California,” he told FOX 5.

Wohlford is also a board member of the San Diego County Farm Bureau. The report released by the county showed avocado value generated $82.8 million in 2021, down from $152.9 million in 2020.

Production also decreased, with trees producing two tons an acre in 2021, but four tons in 2020.

“I think what needs to be done is a lot more work up in Sacremento to help secure our water,” Wohlford continued. “We need to build more reservoirs actually catching the rainwater.”

Farmers said that water rates are going up and the quality is saltier.

“Unlike other industries, there’s no discount for buying more. It’s the same price for the first gallon and it is for the 10 millionth gallon,” he said. “If you want to stay in business for the longevity, got to keep doing what you’re doing if you want to survive.”

For farmers like Holtz, that means getting avocado trees that are more modern and are tested to adapt to the changing environment.

“Since we can’t change the water, now we are trying to change the tree,” Holtz said. “So, we are going to make the tree deal with water we have.”

What are the countries and regions that produce and export avocados?

What are the countries and regions that produce and export avocados?

Kenya’s avocado exports have grown rapidly, with shipments rising from 3,406 in 2017 to 9,990 in 2020 and export volumes nearly doubling, driven by high international demand and resulting in local price surges and shortages .

Title:

Content: Sustainable farming holds the key to economic prosperity

Agriculture holds the key to economic transformation for Kenya and the East African region. However, the challenge lies in practising sustainable agriculture to unlock its true value from food production to agro-processing.

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) takes place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, as a region and human race, we have many challenges ahead.

Some, are brought on by climate change, population pressure and political or financial instability within our economic and geopolitical space. Still, as a country and region, we have many unique advantages including political goodwill which, if used wisely, will allow us to build a robust agricultural economy.

Let me start by dealing with a favourite topic of mine, irrigation and water security. At Kakuzi, we have 19 dams which collect rainfall - allowing us to use the water for irrigation during dry season.

The critical part of our water security is not just the dam but the catchment itself.

If we don’t preserve the water catchment fields, our dams won’t fill with water, or they could silt up. In short, sustainable and secure irrigation requires that we sacrifice something, in this case, acres and acres of land, which act as water catchment areas.

These fields are preserved with natural habitat and managed to avoid soil erosion, bush clearance or overgrazing. In these fields, we must overcome the temptation to dig up the land and plant crops.

The next key challenge for agriculture after water is energy and not just the cost but also availability. In Kenya, our key export crop of tea requires energy to turn it from lush green leaves to dry tea; bear in mind that 4.5 kilos of green leaf converts to 1 kilo of black tea as the rest is water.  As we encourage farmers to grow more green tea leaves, we must also consider how to dry leaves.

-Chris Flowers is the Kakuzi Managing Director.

In every tea-growing country, the energy for drying tea is a significant issue, whether it’s coal in India, gas in Bangladesh or fuel wood for us in East and Central Africa. Engineers have calculated the energy required, and it’s staggering. We must find sustainable solutions for this, as it’s not an easy or quick fix.

We all know the impact of energy prices on fertiliser, which is just another reason why we need to minimise our use wherever we can. Composting and mulching at Kakuzi to improve soil health and enhance soil fertility is a crucial component of our agricultural practices. Given that only 10 per cent of a macadamia nut is the edible kernel, a lot of biomass is available for conversion to energy or compost.

Teaching farmers sustainable agricultural techniques and when to apply different nutrients and in what quantities is part of what we do. Our online avocado academy ‘Kakuzi Avocademy’ is designed as an e-learning portal for farmers. Through the e-learning platform, we strive to advance shared prosperity values allowing smallholder farmers to learn and make the best crop husbandry decisions.

For many years now, I have been saying that we must explain how farmers can sell their fruit for the best value before we can tell them to plant an avocado tree.

Unfortunately, the fact is that the supply-demand equation for a perishable product such as avocados is a reality. Produce a product with limited marketability in a period of oversupply at your peril. This is precisely what happened in the avocado market earlier this year.

An oversupply of fruit in Europe through large Peruvian shipments and late European and North African production meant minimal marketing options for Kenyan smallholder fruit.

As I mentioned above, discerning customers choosing to eat a superfood such as macadamia or avocado want to know what they are eating and how it was produced. This is not because good Kenyan fruit is of substandard quality but simply because a lot of fruit from the country doesn’t have traceability credentials. If we as producers cannot demonstrate these traceability credentials, then high-value markets are limited and becoming more so.

We should also avoid the trap of thinking that emerging markets in the far east are less stringent than our traditional European markets. Sending substandard fruit to an emerging market can only depress demand, not enhance it.

Further up in the Rift Valley in the tea fields of Nandi and beyond, agricultural interest, mainly crop diversification, is also rising. The number of people seeking advice on avocado and macadamia potential in the region predominantly known for tea is growing.

Undoubtedly, this is the best time to get on the agribusiness side of things. As the name suggests, agribusiness means agricultural production for consumption and sale to raise much-needed financial resources. Like any other business, Agri-preneurs must carefully consider profit and loss fundamentals.

Considering profit and loss means engaging the investing community in the agricultural space to appreciate the role of credit access, mechanisation, technology and human resource management for efficiency.

Having been on the agricultural front my entire life, I can attest to this field-based industry’s value and potential to power rapid economic transformation. Kakuzi is an example of a leading agribusiness firm involved in commercial agricultural endeavours, including livestock rearing and agroforestry beyond our renowned avocado and macadamia production.

In Kenya, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda 2022 - 2027 rightly notes that the agricultural sector has the highest growth multiplier effect on other economic sectors due to strong backward and forward linkages. There can be no denying that agriculture is our most globally competitive sector but getting it right is complex. Patience, long-term thinking and getting the fundamentals of sustainability, quality and traceability correct is the key.

Sometimes numbers tell the value of an agricultural enterprise better. For example, last year, notwithstanding the challenges of an “OFF” year cycle, Kakuzi PLC exported  Sh94 million worth of HASS avocados for our smallholder farmers. The previous ON-year cycle had seen us ship HASS Avocado cartons worth Sh152. 2 million for smallholder farmers.

In this venture geared at supporting smallholder farmers access quality international markets, we made payouts amounting to more than Sh31.4 million for the smallholder farmers from Kakuzi’s local community in Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Meru and Trans-Nzoia counties.

This is but one of the proof points that agribusiness is a viable economic avenue that can empower our farmers if we do it correctly.

However, we must remain alive to the vagaries of climate change as a risk factor to agricultural production and work towards building resilience.

Chris Flowers is the Kakuzi Managing Director.

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How have avocado prices changed in recent years?

What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

The global market is projected to keep expanding, with demand outpacing supply for decades, especially as new markets like India and China emerge .

Economically, avocado production has become a billion-dollar industry in Mexico, supporting about 300,000 workers in Michoacán alone and offering profit margins for exports to the U.S.

that are over 50% higher than domestic sales .

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Finally, the long-awaited avocado bonanza arrives

MONEY & MARKET
By Graham Kajilwa | January 10th 2022
By Graham Kajilwa | January 10th 2022
MONEY & MARKET

If there were to be a list of the three things that bother Kenyans today, the crazy prices of avocados would feature without a doubt.

Of late, these prices have hit the roof. An acute shortage in some markets has raised the standard of this fruit to an almost luxurious product.

A few years before avocado was as glorified as a super fruit, the price for a reasonable size of this ‘green gold’ was as low as Sh10 or at most Sh30 from the local vendor.

To some villagers, it was used to feed animals with farm gate prices being as low as Sh5 per piece. But now, the price of a fruit is averaging Sh60.

Currently, an avocado that costs Sh20 or Sh30 is not even attractive to the eye. While the prices of avocados have been steadily rising even in the international markets, the recent absence of the fruit has been prompted by the Directorate of Horticulture’s decision to restrict exports.

Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya Chief Executive Okisegere Ojepat attributed the high prices of avocados in the local market to the restricted export of the fruit, leading to controlled harvesting.

Due to restriction, limited avocados are being exported until later next month as farmers are required to only sell mature fruits. “For that reason, there is little in the market,” said Ojepat.

He explained that the supply in the local market is dependent on international supply as the fruits Kenyans buy are mostly those which do not meet international export standards.

Some of them are small in size, have scratches or bruises. “For that reason, you can be assured if there is not much export, the domestic market feels the heat,” he said. The Jumbo variety is what is mostly sold in the local market. However, this is the only variety now with an open market.

While announcing the decision to restrict export of avocados last month, the Director, Horticultural Crops Directorate, Benjamin Tito, said this would ensure farmers do not export immature fruits. “We are shipping too much but what (the money) we get in return is too little,” said Tito at a press conference.

He said harvesting and exporting of immature avocados has negatively affected the image of the country in overseas markets, in addition to interfering with the cropping cycle of the trees - hence reducing the projected volumes.

According to the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, avocado is the topmost fruit being shipped out of the country.

According to the association’s 2021 report, shipment out of the country has been increasing: rising from 3,406 in 2017, 5,833 in 2018, 8,525 in 2019 to 9,666 in 2020. In terms of volume, the figure has been going up from 38.7 million in 2017 to 71.7 million in 2020.

Data from the Horticultural Crops Directorate paints the same picture as shipment in kilogrammes increased between January and July last year to 67.1 million kilos. The period between June and July 2021, however, saw a drop to 9.8 million and 4.6 million kilos respectively, from the double-digit in May of 10.9 million kilos.

Currently, fruits constitute 34 per cent of shipments of fresh produce from Kenya, with avocado having the lion’s share.

“The Kenyan avocado recorded 9,990 shipments in 2020, shipping to 57 destinations from 35 in 2017,” reads the Fresh Produce Logistics 2021 report by the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya.

The report names avocado as among the fruits that have demonstrated consistent growth over the last five years, with others being mango, passion fruit, raspberries and pineapples.

“On avocados and nuts, Kenya has only exploited 38 per cent of its potential, which means there is still room to grow,” it adds.

The US and Pacific are some of the areas that have the potential to buy Kenya’s avocados.

Avocado Society of Kenya Chief Executive Ernest Muthomi said globalisation had increased demand for the fruit. The universality of the fruit and its use as a spread for bread or smoothie also plays a key role.

“This craze is international,” he said. “And the growing of avocados in Kenya is fueled by this – the international demand. That is why you hear some funny stories of some few Kenyans exporting immature avocados.” He said while Kenyans are also eating avocados just like anyone else in the world, the international prices as stated seem more attractive to a local farmers and exporters, hence the preference for exports.

Prices in the last three years as been a fruit go for Sh25 at the beginning. “Now we are talking about Sh40 or Sh45 for a big size fruit,” he said. The average price per box for export is Sh400 when you get it directly from the farmer.

Pressure on local prices will continue, owing to huge demand globally. It might take 50 years for global demand to be met since there are market openings in India and China.

“Some of it (shortage) is being fueled by the processing of local avocado into other products. Like some are using avocado to process oil,” he said.

As more factories are set up with international demand rising, scarcity is likely to continue unless production goes up.

“Avocados are going to be expensive,” he said. “But thank God people are planting them in areas where they have not been growing before, like Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Bomet.”

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How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

How have avocado prices changed in recent years?

What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

How have avocado prices changed in recent years?

What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

Kenya, now Africa’s largest exporter, has seen job creation and increased income for smallholder farmers, with exports to Europe accounting for about 5% of the continent’s Hass avocado imports .

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Content: Mexican avocado production to fall in 2021-22 - FreshFruitPortal.com

Mexican avocado production to fall in 2021-22

Mexican avocado production is forecast to fall by eight percent year-on-year in the 2021-22 season, according to a USDA GAIN report.

The country is expected to produce 2.33 million metric tons (MMT) between July 2021 and June 2022, following a record volume year in the previous season.

"Growers state that they are expecting needed tree recovery after record productivity and production (especially in Michoacán) in the MY 2020/21 season," the report said.

"Additionally, insufficient rainfall and high temperatures are likely to reduce production and yields in non-Michoacan producing states."

Mexico is forecasted to export 1.33 MMT in 2021-22, eight percent lower than the previous season, on lower production. Exports to the U.S. are forecasted at 1.04 MMT.

Michoacán, the only state with phytosanitary approvals to export to the U.S. typically exports approximately 85 percent of production.

According to the USDA, profit margins for export to the U.S. are typically more than 50 percent higher than supplies sold to the domestic market. Michoacán also exported 22 percent greater volumes in 2020/21 than the previous MY to non-U.S. markets, on increased production. Canada, Japan, and Spain were the main destinations.

International demand for avocados from Mexico continues to increase, and producers without access to the U.S. market continue to seek international markets with higher profitability than the domestic market. Jalisco exported 26 percent more volume than the previous marketing year in 2020/21, mainly to Japan, Canada, France and Spain.

Planted and harvested areas are forecasted at 227,126 hectares (ha) and 225,910 ha respectively, with a national yield of 10.30 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha).

Harvest reaches peak from October to February, with average supply from March to May, and low season from June to September.

Annual per capita consumption is seven kilograms (approximately 15 pounds) per person. While a staple in Mexican cuisine, avocado consumption has not grown in recent years because of high prices driven by increased international demand.

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What are the countries and regions that import avocados?

What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

However, market volatility can harm smaller producers, as seen in Australia where oversupply has forced some farmers to let fruit rot due to unprofitably low prices .

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Content: Smashing news: Early season avocados just 80 cents each

Forks at the ready, avo fans – with the harvest just beginning, the fruit is already going cheap.

A scan of supermarket prices on Tuesday revealed avocados, harvested from August to February, were already selling for as little as 80 cents a pop.

A Countdown spokesperson said grower investment over the last couple of years meant it had a good supply of New Zealand-grown fruit.

“Over the last year, avocado sales have increased by more than 25%,” they said.

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Foodstuffs spokesperson Emma Wooster said more than 31 million avocados were sold in its New World, Pak ‘n Save and Four Square stores last year.

“We expect to see great value and availability on avocados continue as crops grow larger – great news as we know New Zealanders love some avo on their morning toast,” Wooster said.

NZ Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular said New Zealanders bought more than 80 million avocados last season, which was “a record, and a great one.”

“With increased prices for fruit and vegetables, and our new season crop available, it’s a great time for Kiwis to grab an extra couple of avocados in their weekly shopping and try avocados in new ways.”

But the bargain-basement prices come at a cost to avocado growers, who have already had a tough couple of years.

Repeated Covid-19 lockdowns, shipping problems and changing shopping habits had all impacted on growers’ ability to shift their produce.

On top of that, increased production in Australia, usually New Zealand’s biggest export market, resulted in an “avalanche” of avocados there last year.

The oversupply led to prices hitting a 15-year low of $1 each and a 76% slump in New Zealand’s exports across the Tasman.

Scoular said New Zealand produced about 1.5% of global avocado supply, and she believed demand in Asia could be “increased significantly with good investment in that market development.”

What crises have happened on the global avocado market in the recent years?

prices falling sharply
oversupply of avocados in Australia

Environmentally, the expansion of avocado farming is linked to deforestation, especially in Mexico’s Michoacán region, where forest land is converted to orchards, threatening biodiversity and releasing stored carbon .

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Content: For foodies, workers, restaurant owners and investors on both sides of the Rio Grande border, Friday brought a sigh of relief after the United States lifted its temporary ban on imports of Mexican avocados.

The week-long pause — albeit a short one — had fueled concerns in the avocado industry, from the workers who pick the fruit in Mexico to consumers worrying about a potential shortage of a staple in the diets of many Americans.

Mexico supplies about 80 percent of the avocados eaten in the United States. The import ban — stemming from purported threats to a U.S. inspector in the Latin American country — shook a billion-dollar industry. Not only did the commotion showcase the law enforcement issues that growers are frequently subjected to in Mexico, but experts said it underscored the importance of one of the strongest and most successful bilateral trade agreements.

Before being smeared into toast or squashed into guacamole, the avocado’s life begins in an orchard in Michoacán — a western Mexican state over a thousand miles away from the border and the only one allowed to send over avocados to the United States. From a bright-green fruit hanging atop trees to its final stage inside American kitchens, the avocado’s journey from seed to food encompasses different phases of inspections and agreements between the two nations — which suddenly took a hit.

Last week, a plant safety inspector from the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was inspecting avocados in Michoacán, when he saw some avocados that looked suspiciously like they came from another state, according to USDA and other industry experts. He raised a red flag and soon after, he received a voice-mail threat. Then the USDA announced it was shutting down imports until it could be assured its agents were safe.

The potential of an impending shortage quickly rippled across the industry — one that came shortly before the Super Bowl, one of the avocado’s biggest events. Soon, food establishments and groceries began worrying about keeping up with a demand that has exponentially increased throughout the past decade.

Prices for the fruit deemed “green gold” were already 100 percent higher than the previous year, said David Magaña, a senior analyst for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. But the year-long availability of avocados had also increased as well — indicating that a surge in demand can be attributed to different factors, he said.

For one, avocados, with their versatility and healthy fat attributes, became a food trend and Internet obsession. At the same time, the Hispanic population booms across the country — with a larger share of Latinos among Gen Z — have been “one of the major forces pulling the demand for avocados,” the analyst said.

But behind all those green juices and avocado Instagram-worthy photos is the partnership between Mexico and the United States — which has played a crucial role in enabling the market to expand.

In 1995 — a time when “fat-free” food staples ruled the market — the United States did not have much of a taste for avocados. The majority of the consumed fruit was produced in California. Avocado imports that year totaled $14.7 million, of which $700,000 came from Mexico, said David Orden, a professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech.

Mexico’s avocados had been banned in the decades before the North American Free Trade Agreement from 1994, Orden said — mostly out of a concern that weevils, scabs and other pests could enter U.S. orchards from imported products. The trade agreement opened the door for the incremental expansion of avocados.

In establishing a system in which U.S. inspectors verify that avocados are pest-free — from when they are growing in orchards to the moment they are packed into sealed trucks — Mexico has been allowed to ship its agricultural product. It started with an approved wintertime stock in Alaska back in the ’90s that has turned into a current year-long supply in all states.

“So that’s all very encouraging and great story about growth and trade agreements, and something the U.S. is trying to do in other countries as well,” Orden said.

The agreement has contributed to economic progress in both sides of the border. Last year, “the two-way food and agricultural trade reached $65 billion, including $2.8 billion in Mexican avocado exports to the United States,” U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement. In Michoacán, some 300,000 workers depend on the avocado industry — including those doing the picking, the packing and the transporting of the fruit.

But their livelihoods have been threatened by encumbering cartels, who see the booming industry as a golden hen for profit, Orden said.

“It has attracted the attention of these gangs in an area where the cartels are not under control,” he said. “That’s where this story takes on a shadier color. But that’s really a law enforcement issue, and one that affects all of our relationships with Mexico.”

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said in a statement that it had worked with the Mexican government and the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico to enact “additional measures” to safeguard the safety of its inspectors.

While the agency did not disclose what such measures encompass, they served to avert what could have been a costly avocado crisis — one that would had impacted plenty, from those picking the fruit to those biting into their avocado toasts.

“With this we ensure the exportation of fruit and provide economic certainty to farmers and day laborers,” Michoacán Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla tweeted Friday.

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

High water use is another major concern; avocado cultivation is water-intensive, straining resources in drought-prone areas of Mexico and California, and prompting calls for efficient irrigation and water catchment systems .

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Avocado oversupply drives prices through the floor, forces farmers to let fruit rot

By Meg Bolton
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A pair of Sunshine Coast farmers say they have no choice but to watch their avocados die on trees as Australian growers battle with a market oversupply.

Production has doubled in the past decade as farmers cash in on the nation's appetite for the fruit, leading to smaller growers being priced out of the market.

Wolvi farmers Julie and Tony Pratt have had to make some difficult decisions after making a profit of just 4 cents per avocado on a recent delivery to a major Queensland market.

They say letting their produce rot is now the most economical decision.

"We know you shouldn't do it, [but] we don't have a choice," Mr Pratt said.

The couple bought their 1,000-tree property four years ago and were anticipating 2021 to be their strongest season.

It has been their worst.

"One dollar an avocado [in the supermarket means] all farms are losing money -- doesn't matter whether you're a small family farm or a corporate farm," Mr Pratt said.

"What really hurts is when you see that fruit not coming from Australia.

"It makes it pretty hard to get up the next morning and start up irrigation pumps to prepare for the next crop."

The season would usually end in September in the Gympie region, but the Pratts still have fruit on trees after taking a risk and waiting to see whether supermarket prices would rise.

The gamble did not pay off.

"Because of the sheer volume on the market, there's close to half a million trays a week coming onto the market from various parts of Australia," Mr Pratt said.

Money not growing on trees

Avocados Australia chief executive John Tyas said more trees coupled with a good growing conditions had significantly increased market supply.

"This year we're seeing a massive increase in production with a lot of young plantings coming online," he said.

Last year the nation's growers produced almost 90,000 tonnes, but Mr Tyas said 120,000 tonnes would be produced in the next year.

Industry representative Hort Innovation launched an advertising campaign in June to increase demand for the rapidly growing supply.

Marketing manager Matthew Dwyer said oversupply was the industry's biggest challenge.

"What we want to do is ensure that consumers know the value of the product," he said.

He said the advertisement was a success -- after four months, research showed two out of three consumers were more likely to buy avocados.

Call for locals to support their own

The Pratts turned to selling their crop on social media for the first time to survive the season.

They also had family members manning roadside stalls, which Mr Pratt never imagined they would have to do.

"We just need to shift more volume and it's a lot more work," he said.

But with production increasing at a rapid rate, Mr Pratt said there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

"If you look at a lot of these big farms, whether that's in North Queensland, Central Queensland -- these are guys that have planted thousands of trees," he said.

"It's the first year that those farms are getting any yield from those first few plantings.

Mrs Pratt urged consumers to buy locally grown fruit.

"We have to share our stories for them to understand that they need to put their money where their mouth is and go, 'Right I'm spending, I'm making the choice to spend at my local fruit and veggie shop','" she said.

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Creamy margaritas and globe-trotting guacs: 22 ways to eat through Australia’s avocado avalanche

Producers are predicting there will be 22 avocados grown for every person in Australia this year. Here’s how to try something new with each one

The avocado is no longer a signifier of brunching profligacy – Australia is harvesting a bumper crop.

According to the agribusiness bank Rabobank, production is up by 26% from last year as trees, primarily in Western Australia and Queensland, mature. The resulting abundance – 22 avocados are forecast to be grown for every Australian this year – has led to a drop in prices to $1 each at the supermarket and farmers are appealing to consumers to increase their avo intake.

Undoubtedly the most popular of all avocado dishes – and now part of the fabric and lore of Australian cuisine – is the smashed avocado. There are all kinds of variations (here is a version from Anna Jones), personalisations and opinions when it comes to avocado on toast but, in its purest form, it’s simply lightly crushed avocado seasoned with lemon, salt and pepper, then roughly piled on to a piece of thick-cut toast.

There was, of course, a time before smashing, when it was just “avocado” and was served on sandwiches. Maggie Beer’s “chook and avocado” serves up poached chicken on delicate white bread fingers, perfectly sized for afternoon tea.

Guacamole, originating from the central states of Mexico (the “mole” means sauce) is made from mashed ripe avocados, tomatoes, onions, coriander and green chilli, but google it and you’ll tumble down a seemingly bottomless pit of recipes.

Jack White, the frontman of the White Stripes, is apparently both a guacamole purist and a perfectionist, as evidenced by the inclusion of a very specific recipe in his backstage rider.

Nick Fitzgerald keeps his guacamole traditional, too, adding extra flavour by topping it with green salsa macha, a spicy oil originating in Veracruz and made from dried chillies, garlic, nuts and spices. It’s ideal, he says, for dipping tostadas, tortilla chips or chicharron – deep-fried pork crackling.

Casually crossing cultures, Yotam Ottolenghi infuses his guac with wasabi, an unusual addition, but a superb colour-matched heat swap for chilli. Jackie Middleton travels a similar geographical distance with her recipe for fish tacos with guacamole, featuring fish sauce and sumac.

Prawns are the protein of choice for Adrian Richardson’s tacos. His avocado and chilli salsa makes only a brief departure from Mexico to add a pinch of sesame seeds. Ottolenghi favours prawns too, in his playful homage to the retro classic avocado and prawns, spicing it up and serving it with a curried yoghurt in place of typical Marie Rose-type sauce.

Crab is a winsome partner for avocado too, and the availability of pre-picked sweet crabmeat makes a recipe like Warren Mendes’ crab and avocado dome an impressive return for investment.

This simple omelette from the Sydney Seafood School also features crab, served with an avocado salsa with the unusual addition of tarragon.

To serve up Italian-style sausages, Nigel Slater swaps potato for a lighter, spicier feta and avocado mash, suggesting exchanging the sausages for chorizo if you’re keen to turn up the heat. In another recipe he eschews meat for halloumi, breaded and deep-fried to golden, served with silky avocado blended, rather than mashed, with basil and olive oil for extra creaminess.

Unlikely sounding but vividly attractive, is Jamie Oliver’s avocado pastry quiche, another vegetarian-friendly recipe, which uses avocado to replace butter or oil in the dough, and adds a filling of puréed peas and cheese.

Cooked avocado has always been divisive. This baked recipe confidently fills halved avocados with quinoa, corn, feta, walnuts and cherry tomatoes before baking. Jones also roast avocados. After tossing them in lime and chilli, she coats them in breadcrumbs and serves them with slaw and charred salsa for build-your-own tortillas. And avocado chips, anyone? They’re baked not fried in this Spruce Eats recipe.

Virtue-signalling is the popular green smoothie, with avocado adding a deceptive creaminess. And, as the name in this “spinach smuggler” suggests, its flavour can also cover up less-palatable ingredients.

Sweets are another unexpected course the avocado has taken over the past decade, driven by vegans craving creaminess. This sleight of hand can fool even perennially suspicious offspring. A mousse recipe by Claire Ptak is particularly pleasing as it requires just two steps: blend everything in a food processor then chill in the fridge.

Doubling down on the key ingredient is Australian Avocados recipe for chocolate avocado brownie with avocado ice-cream.

Meera Sodha adds matcha (green tea powder) to her avocado ice-cream and makes it dairy-free by sweetening it with condensed coconut milk.

The avocado has even taken on the drinks cabinet, most notably in the form of a margarita pioneered by the Austin restaurant Curras more than 20 years ago. Just sip it slowly – or risk becoming an entirely different kind of smashed.

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

What strategies can make global avocado trade more ethical?

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

What strategies can make global avocado trade more ethical?

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

What strategies can make global avocado trade more ethical?

Kenya and other countries have implemented export restrictions and promoted