Palestinian farmer Ziad Sawan (L) and his daughter Rana harvest the Akoub plants at their farm in Immatain village, east of the West Bank city Qalqilya, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
QALQILYA, West Bank, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Akoub, or Gundelia, is a prickly green plant considered as one of the hottest products at Palestinian vegetable markets in the spring season.
Palestinians traditionally use the sturdy Akoub stems and flower buds to make favorite dishes like stews, soups or fried eggs. It's believed that Akoub can treat many diseases from diabetes to bronchitis.
Akoub planting is a profitable business for Palestinian farmers like 66-year old Ziad Sawan, who has a farm of four dunams (0.4 hectares) in the West Bank city of Qalqilya. Sawan produces about 4,000 kg of Akoub each year, which can sell for about 80,000 shekels (about 24,024 U.S. dollars).
Palestinian farmer Ziad Sawan (L) and his daughter Rana harvest Akoub plants at their farm in Immatain village, east of the West Bank city Qalqilya, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Palestinian farmer Ziad Sawan (R) and his daughter Rana harvest Akoub plants at their farm in Immatain village, east of the West Bank city Qalqilya, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Palestinian farmer Ziad Sawan and his daughter Rana harvest Akoub plants at their farm in Immatain village, east of the West Bank city Qalqilya, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
The photo taken on March 31, 2021 shows the prickly Akoub plants, whose stems and flower buds are used to make favorite Palestinian dishes like stews, soups and fried eggs. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
The photo taken on March 31, 2021 shows the sturdy stems and flower buds of Akoub plant, which are used to make favorite Palestinian dishes like stews, soups and fried eggs. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Palestinian farmer Ziad Sawan removes the thorny leaves from Akoub plants at his farm in Immatain village, east of the West Bank city Qalqilya, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) ■
