The EU working alongside rural families in Palestine

Targeting highly vulnerable families in rural areas, the EU is supporting the rehabilitation of agricultural lands in Palestine to make rural people produce their own food: a step towards dignified existence and financial independence.

Badiaa Zeydan – Ramallah, Eurojar

Fatima Kenaan, from Anabta village near Tulkarm city in the West Bank, is mother to 6 children, one of them mentally and physically handicapped. Her husband is retired and his pension does not cover their everyday basics and the expenses of their ill-son… Her only recourse was a village committee, working in cooperation with the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC), and supported by the European Union. She sought their help to acquire the right to cultivate a piece of land near her house.

Kenaan says:”After I filed the application, the committee had to assess my financial and social status. Then, they had to evaluate the land, which should be cultivable, with a surface greater than 500 m2. I have been selected because I am active in the agricultural field, and have previous experience in it. I was very happy when I was chosen. We began with the preparation of the land. My land was rock free, and it was not easy to drill a well in it. This is why they helped me build a water reservoir, and water was pumped from the well to the reservoir. Then a network of water pipes was installed in the ground to facilitate the irrigation process of my land.”

Kenaan adds:”The second step was the plantation phase. They provided me with sprouts of almond trees, spinach, parsley, beans and fennel… Little by little, I was able to meet the food needs of my family from this land, and soon, I will be able to sell crops, especially that a new bunch of grains and sprouts will be distributed on us in the beginning of April.”

In the framework of the project titled “Rural families produce their own food”, specialized committees attached to PARC “work with us hand in hand throughout the plantation process. They provide us with all the necessary equipment and tools, and crops are regularly supervised and monitored. This makes us feel that we are not alone in this business. We get the financial and moral support as needed,” notes Kenaan.

Further examples of support
Jalal Jayousi, from Kur village in Tulkarm neighborhood, is a farmer in charge of a seven-member family. He is also member in a local committee working on studying the applications filed by rural families for land rehabilitation. Jayousi says:”I filed an application to rehabilitate a piece of land located outside the village. After assessing my situation and the status of the land, a total of 5 dunums (about 4500 sq.m) were selected for rehabilitation, noting that the rehabilitated land should be at least one kilometer away from urban zones.” He goes on to say:”Usually, each well can serve 5 to 6 dunums (about 4500-5500 sq.m) of land. This is why, a well was drilled and narrow pathways were created to facilitate access to the land. Small almond and olive trees, grains for forage crops, chickpeas and wheat were planted. Fertilizers were added to the soil to make the growing process more successful.”

Taghrid Nasser owns a piece of land around her house. She has been planting it for several years; however, she faces an irrigation problem during summer time, when water becomes scarce in the region. Nasser explains:”My problem was solved thanks to the project funded by the European Union. A well was drilled in my land, and irrigation channels were created. I was able to cultivate the entirety of the land surrounding my house, after I was provided with fruit and vegetables sprouts, in addition to the necessary equipment for plantation and collection of olives. Last year, I was able to fulfill the needs of my family from these plantations and the surplus was distributed on relatives.”

A plan for 14 villages
It is worth noting that the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees organization is executing the project titled “Rural families produce their own food” in the north of the West Bank after it won the call for proposals tendered by the European Union. The project covers 14 villages in the north of the West Bank: Anabta, Ramin, Safarin near Tulkarm; Rama, Marj Sanour, Kafr Rahi, Anin, Al Sila (Al Harthiya) near Jenin, Akaba, Tayaseer near the city of Tubas, Nabi Elias, Jayous and Seer village near Kalkilya.

Basima Choucair, project coordinator at the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees noted that the project was launched in 2008 and will last till mid 2010. About 800 dunums (each dunum is nearly 920 sq.m) were rehabilitated thanks to the project, and 538 farmers benefited from the support. Thirty kilometers of agricultural paths were created, and supporting walls were built around cultivated lands. 100 wells were drilled, and rehabilitated lands were protected with barbed wire.

Choucair to add:”150 house yards were rehabilitated and benefited 150 women responsible for their families. Wells were drilled and irrigation networks constructed to supply the rehabilitated lands with the necessary water. Sprouts, grains and fertilizers were distributed on farmers.”

Talking about the role of the European Union in this project, Choucair says:”The European Union provided a total of 1.7 million Euros for the project, which constitutes 80% of the project’s total budget. This sum is payable in 4 installments on a period of 30 months. The remaining 20% is a contribution from the farmers concerned by the project. With this contribution, farmers feel more concerned in preserving and safeguarding their land, as they are paying from their own pocket part of the rehabilitation costs.

Choucair adds:”The European Union worked on an integrated plan of rehabilitation, with accomplishments covering the different stages of cultivation. The EU follows up the project’s achievements through periodical reports prepared by us following field visits to farmers and their rehabilitated lands. According to the last report, 4096 hectares of agricultural land were completely rehabilitated, 24,800 kg of vegetables were produced in house yards and 100 wells were drilled. 2550 rural workers were able to work in building supporting walls and drilling wells, on a total of 12,000 working days.

Refer to the project fact sheet: European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) - Supporting the most vulnerable Palestinians

N.B: Text translated from Arabic by Eurojar team