Around 1 500 farming households in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip will benefit from an agricultural pilot project over
the next two years, FAO
announced today.
The project will be
implemented by FAO and funded by Italy with around $1.5
million.
In spite of prevailing
constraints, agriculture still plays a major economic and
social role in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS),
providing not only income and employment opportunities for a
large share of the population in rural areas but also
contributing significantly to food security.
With rising poverty and
unemployment, the food security situation in the WBGS has
considerably deteriorated over the past three years.
According to a recent FAO
report, food insecurity is a reality for 1.4 million people
(40 percent of the population) and a near constant worry for
an additional 1.1 million people (30 percent) who are under
threat of becoming food insecure should prevailing
conditions persist.
Support for 12 000 people
"While the political and
economic situation remains volatile and unpredictable, the
project will develop and test innovative approaches suitable
for an urgently needed long-term rehabilitation of
agriculture and will minimize the risk in terms of resource
utilization," FAO said.
Over the next two years,
the project aims at supporting around 12 000 poor people in
rural areas of Bethlehem, Hebron, Gaza and Tulkarm. The
project will be carried out jointly by FAO and the Ministry
of Agriculture.
"Farmers and their
families will directly benefit from improved skills,
techniques and infrastructure provided by the project," FAO
said.
Project activities will
include: replanting orchards with improved varieties;
replacing greenhouses; installing irrigation systems and
providing integrated pest management equipment; planting of
vegetables, fodder, olive and fruit trees; renovating animal
sheds; rehabilitating rangeland through reseeding, fencing
and constructing water points; establishing rainwater
harvesting systems; and training the private and public
sector in the proper management and sustainable use of
inputs and natural resources.
In the medium to
longer-term there should be increased investment in
agriculture as it creates labour intensive employment,
provides a variety of food for promoting dietary
diversification, encourages women's participation in the
development process and prevents further asset depletion and
welfare dependency, FAO said.
