PARC Launches the One Million Tree Project
Funded by the Welfare Association
July 2006
In response to the Palestinian socio-economic de-facto situation that is getting worse day after the other due to Israel’s continued aggressive policy of land confiscation for the purpose of completing the wall construction and enlarging the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) recently commenced the implementation process of the project: Cultivating Date Palm Trees Within the Framework of the One Million Tree Campaign*. This project comes in full conformity with PARC’s aim to help Palestinian farmers stay on the land and resist land confiscation, additional to rehabilitate the lands that were destroyed by the wall.
Since the beginning
of the project implementation, PARC distributed 1084
date palm seedlings of the Medjoul variety to 19 farmers
in Bardala (in the Jordan Valley) of meager income with
a total of 194 family members. The total cost reached
USD59,620 out of which PARC contributed 75% (USD44,715)
and 25% (USD14,905) was contributed by the farmer
beneficiaries. The total size of the lands where the
seedlings were cultivated was 72.5 dunums.
To ensure the
success of the project, PARC established irrigation
networks costing USD7000 shared by PARC (USD5250) and
farmers (USD1750).
It is worth noting
that PARC has previously distributed 82,000 seedlings of
almonds, citrus, apples, figs, and avocados to farmers
in Tulkarem, Qalqilia and Jenin as a part of 110,000
seedlings to be distributed in these areas during the
project implementation. Furthermore, PARC dug 27
cisterns for collecting the rainwater for irrigating the
seedlings.
Moqbel Abu Jesh,
the project coordinator, highlighted the farmers’ heavy
demand for date palm cultivation in the Jordan Valley
particularly in Bardala, Kardala and Elein El-Bidha
which are all living under a constant strict siege and
closure imposed by the Israeli occupation forces that
restrict people and farmers’ movement. He added that
these villages have been targeted by the wall and their
share of fresh water has been deliberately decreased by
the Israeli water authority “Mekorot” so as to force the
villagers to abandon their lands and find refugee in
Toubas.
Abu Jesh pointed
out that the Jordan Valley is very suitable for date
palm cultivation and there is a great demand for it
because of its high economic feasibility however farmers
there cannot afford cultivation because of the high cost
which reaches up to $150 per one seedling. Therefore,
PARC gives a very close attention to date palm
cultivation. Presently, PARC is cultivating 200 date
palm seedlings in Bardala in cooperation with the women
club there in order to improve the farmers’ income.
Prior to
implementation, PARC held an intensive training course
in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture to
advise and guide farmers about the most feasible methods
to care for date palms. By organizing this course, PARC
aimed at ensuring a feasible yield out of the project.
On the other hand,
Ashraf Sawafta, one of the farmer beneficiaries,
expressed his happiness and deep appreciation for
receiving the seedlings. He highlighted that the date
palms which live too long will help him stay on the land
against the constant attempts and threats of
confiscation and destruction by the Israeli occupation
forces.
Sawafta pointed out
the high commitment of every single member of his family
to work the land and care for the date palms which he
received from PARC hoping they will give him a very good
yield. He expressed his thanks to PARC for targeting his
village “Bardala”, which stands in the front line
resisting the Israeli occupation oppression.
