The Palestinian Authority’s programme, “Private Sector Reconstruction Gaza – Agriculture,” is providing an integrated package of support to Palestinian farmers in the Gaza Strip. This EU-funded programme is helping Palestinian farmers, throughout the Gaza Strip, affected by the Israeli occupation, in restoring their businesses.
The new contribution of €3.7 million targets 178 additional farmers and agro-businesses to relaunch, repair or replace damaged businesses. It covers wide range of activities including the acquisition of agricultural supplies, rehabilitation of land and other small infrastructure works. In particular, the Palestinian Authority will rehabilitate 22 water wells, to irrigate about 2800 dunams, supply 15 agricultural tractors, provide 118 livestock farms, including 2,600 heads of livestock, and construct 37 greenhouses units. This brings the total number of beneficiaries of the programme, to date, to 259 farmers.
”Agricultural production is a crucial sector of the Palestinian economy. The support to the agricultural sector is essential to build a future Palestinian State with a viable economy. In this context, the EU contributes to programmes run by the Palestinian Authority to sustain the livelihoods of people and further strengthen the Palestinian agro-businesses. The Gaza Strip has a strong agricultural potential and the farmers there have suffered from the consequences of multiple conflicts since 2008. This programme will allow hundreds of them to restore their agricultural businesses and improve their lives,” said the Deputy EU Representative Tomas Niklasson, according to the PNN.
The overall financial envelope of the Private Sector Reconstruction Gaza – Agriculture (PSRG-A) programme amounts to €10.5 million. It is expected to serve about 400 eligible beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip. The programme was designed and is managed by the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture and the Palestinian Agriculture Disaster Risk Reduction and Insurance Fund. The payments are made by the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Finance and Planning through a network of local banks.
