On Thursday 15 October, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees launched the opening of the first Palestinian community seeds bank in Hebron. The opening ceremony was attended by the Representative of the European Commission Mr. Christian Berger and the deputy head of the Belgian Development Cooperation Mrs. Genia Helou-Raad. The representatives of the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture and Oxfam-Solidarité Belgium were also attending.
The opening of this first Palestinian seeds bank built on more than 10 years of efforts and cooperation between the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and Oxfam-Solidarité Belgium with the continuous support of the Belgian Development Cooperation in working on the improvement and production of local vegetable and field crops seeds. Since 2008, the European Commission also supports this programme with a particular attention to the protection of vulnerable Palestinian agriculture-based livelihoods in Southern West-Bank by sustaining and developing agricultural production capacity vital for food security within a commercial and ecological perspective. The improved and produced seeds are all rain-fed varieties and do not need additional irrigation. The programme started off in Hebron and Bethlehem districts, since these districts are most suitable and in need for this type of seeds considering its semi-arid climate. The Union of Agricultural Work Committees has built over the years a strong cooperation and coordination with other Palestinian organizations, universities and the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, working on information compilation, research and towards a national strategy. The programme also includes a component of regional exchange and knowledge transfer on this topic. Of course the seeds improvement and production could not have been possible without the work and efforts of the Palestinian farmers, who are at the core of the agricultural sector. From 2010 onwards the programme will be expanded and include local seeds improvement and production for other geographical areas (Middle and Northern West Bank and Gaza Strip).
Launching the project, Mr. Berger said: "Poverty fighting, achievement of millennium development goals, together with climate change form a sole paradigm. The development of non-irrigated seeds does not only represent an economic opportunity for poor farmers, it is one of the existing sustainable possibilities to adapt to climate change in this particularly affected region of the world. The EU, as a world leader in the battle against climate change and as a major aid provider to the Palestinian Authority, is and will be very supportive to such initiatives."
Mrs. Genia Helou-Raad from the Belgian Development Cooperation congratulated the Union of Agriculture Workers Committee "on this occasion for their excellent accomplishments and fruitful cooperation between Oxfam-Solidarité Belgium which dates to 1998. The agricultural sector is considered by the Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation as an important sector. Economic growth is regarded as the engine for development and poverty alleviation. Supporting rural development and the agricultural sector contributes towards job creation. This type of interventions clearly contributes to the increased access to natural resources and improves the quality of the agricultural product and also contributes to food security. The Belgian Development Cooperation hopes to continue to be part of this effort to develop a viable and sustainable Palestinian agricultural sector."
The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, represented by its director in Hebron, Mr. Badr Hawamda confirmed the Ministry's support for these efforts and its commitment to include local seeds as part of the Palestinian national strategy to work towards a sustainable agricultural sector from a commercial and ecological perspective.
Contacts:
Mr. Fou'ad Abu Saif, UAWC, 0599-37.54.45
Mr. Olivier Maes, EC, 02-541.58.88