Syria: An Economic Survey 



It is interesting to compare the budgets of various types of 

 farms. Three farms belonging to fellaheen in the neighborhood of 

 Lydda may be taken as examples of native husbandry. Type I 

 consists of about 100 dunam, and is worked only by the fellah ancl 

 his wife; the net profit amounts to about 750 francs annually. 

 Type II, of the same size, is more elaborately run, the fellah em- 

 ploying two laborers for several months in the year; the annual 

 net profit is 1,485 francs in a good year. Type III, about 500 

 dunam in size, requires five tenant partners (charats), two shep- 

 herds, and a watchman. The net profit is 1,780 francs. It must 

 not be forgotten that the fellah is compelled to pay out 20 per cent 

 of his profit for taxes, the osher, wergho, etc. The advantage of 

 the native farm is that the income is fairly uniform, that the risk 

 is small, and that little capital is needed to run it. 



The Jewish and German farms in Palestine, on the other 

 hand, which are run according to European methods, require a far 

 greater investment for buildings, etc. In general it may be said 

 that the native farmer requires an invested capital of 5,000 francs 

 inclusive of land (100 dunam) or 1,000 francs exclusive of land; 

 the Jewish colonist requires an invested capital of 17,000 francs 

 inclusive of land (200 dunam) or 8,000 francs exclusive of land; 

 and the German colonist requires an invested capital of 24,000 

 francs inclusive of land (200 dunam) or 14,000 francs exclusive 

 of land. 



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