Today the Dutch government and the Agricultural Development Association (PARC) launched two projects in support of the agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip with a total value of Euro 6 million. Mr. Jack Twiss Quarles van Ufford, Head of Mission of the Netherlands Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority, explains that the Dutch government’s contributions aims to address food security concerns, high unemployment rates as well as to maintain and develop the full economic potential of the Gaza agricultural sector: “Agriculture has traditionally been one of Gaza's economic strongholds. In recent years farmers incurred high losses and large scale damage to their lands. The projects we're launching today will speed up the overall recovery of the sector. We are fully committed to win back the share of the international market for the flowers, strawberries and vegetables from Gaza.”

Background

The head of the representative office of the Netherlands to the Palestinian authority, Mr. Jack Twiss Quarles van Ufford and the Agricultural Development Association (PARC) announced today in Gaza the launch of two projects:
1) Maintaining and Developing the Cash Crops Sector in the Gaza Strip,” and
2) “Early Recovery Program Phase II”

The project “Maintaining and Developing the Cash Crops Sector in the Gaza Strip” adds to the support the Dutch government has provided to the sector since 2006. The project targets farmers whom are unable to continue cultivating their lands due to the continued export restrictions. The farmers will be granted the needed agricultural inputs and seedlings, in addition to agricultural extension services through specialized agronomists hired by PARC. The project aims to bolster the capacity of cash crops farmers and to assist them in exporting their crops to global markets - the EU in particular - enabling them to maintain the Palestinian share in the European markets. The project contribution constitutes about 42% of total cost of planting 300 dunums of carnations (47 farms), 350 dunums of strawberries (75 farms) and 52 dunums of vegetables (26 farmers). The expected harvest for this year may reach 30 million stems, 700 tons of strawberries and 390 tons of vegetables (cherry tomatoes, Sweet pepper). Agricultural Cooperative of Beit-Hanoun, Gaza Agricultural cooperative for marketing and producing flower and Vegetables ,Farmers Union Charitable Association and Agricultural cooperative Association for strawberries and flowers farmers are parteners.

Following the successful implementation of the first phase of the “Early Recovery Programme,” PARC developed a second phase of the project, targeting small-scall farmers, affected women and unemployed farmers and laborers in all regions of the Gaza Strip. The second phase focuses on four interventions: land reclamation, agricultural roads construction, extending the water carrier lines and the establishment of home gardens, all of which serve farmers affected by operation Cast Lead, but also benefits the recovery of the agricultural sector and rural development in general. For the implementation of this project PARC’s is joined by three partner NGO’s (Palestinian Hydrology Group, Alnajd Development Forum and the Human Development Association) that will add their expertise to the project. This concerted effort underscores PARC’s interest in strengthening the role of partnership between the civil institutions in society.