Concept Note for the Development of the

NationalAgricultureResearch Strategyin Palestine

1.INTRODUCTION:

1.1Background

Agriculture is an essential component of the Palestinian national, cultural, economic and social fabric. In addition to its traditional significance for nations and states, Agriculture is not an economic activity and source of incomeonly, but also is considered a major contributor to the protection of land confiscation and settlement, achieving food security, providingjobs for 11.5% of the workforce and contributing with 5.6% of GDP, With 12% of total exports, in addition to the improvement of the conservation of environment, and its relationship to other sectors as a main supplier to the inputs of the industry.Also,Agriculture is the consumer and user ofinputs, services from other sectors.

Agriculture is particularly important for Palestinians as it embodies their perseverance, confrontation and adherence to their land under the threat of confiscation and settlement activities. It also provides a refuge and a source of income and of food supplies at times of crises. In this context, a significant number of Palestinians, who were denied access to work in Israel, have resorted to the agricultural activities.

The role and importance of agriculture is not restricted to economic and social aspects only Agriculture is also a major contributor to:

Protecting land from confiscation and settlement activity as well as safeguarding Palestinian water rights and use: Land reclamation, water harvest and cultivation of trees have been amongst the measures that helped undermine Israeli settlers’ false pretexts, stating that their presence on the Palestinian territory is expedient to protect the environment and to provide job opportunities for Palestinians. In addition, these activities have defeatedclaims behind confiscating land on the Palestinian side of the Separation Wall for “security” reasons.

Food security: Local agricultural productionachievesself-sufficiency with regard to the majority of vegetables, olives, olive oil, poultry, eggs, honey, grapes and figs. Recent studies and surveys released by FAO and World Food Programme show that 25% and 61% of Palestinian households in the West Bank and Gaza suffer from food insecurity. Additionally, 11% of the West Bank households and 16% of the Gaza households are prone to food insecurity. With respect to those in possession of agricultural land, 21% of West Bank households suffer from food insecurity.

Provision of job opportunities and income: Historically, the agricultural sector in Palestine has been a major source of job opportunities. A large percentage of Palestinians depend on agriculture as either a main or a secondary source of income. However, manpower in the agricultural sector reached11.5% in 2012. On the other hand, agriculture has provided a significant number of work opportunities for Palestinian workers who lost their jobs in Israel during the first years of the second Intifada. Likewise, when public sector salaries were cut during the period 2006-2007, a sizeable portion of Palestinian employees reverted to agriculture.

In addition, approximately 35% of working women in the West Bank and Gaza work in the agricultural sector.

Contribution to the GDP and exports: Clearly, official figures on the contribution of agriculture in the GDP do not reflect the actual importance of the Palestinian agricultural sector in terms of its indirect role and linkages with other sectors and activities. Moreover, released agriculture-related information and data are not accurate.

The Agricultural sector contributed by 5.6 % of the GDP in 2012, significant quantities of flowers, vegetables and olive oil are mainly exported to Israel, EU members states and some Arab countries. In 2012, Palestinian agricultural exports represented approximately 12% of the total Palestinian exports.

Environment conservation: Basically, environment can be protected through measures that target the conservation of soil and water; cultivation of fruit trees, olive and other trees; rehabilitation of rangelands; forestation; protection of agro-biodiversity; and combating desertification, reuse of sewage treated water, recycling and production of compost, in addition to halting the urban expansion on the fertile agricultural lands.

Value added of the agricultural sector in developing and enhancing other sectors:Industries of fertilisers, seeds, irrigation systems, machineries, agricultural chemicals and others primarily rely on agriculture for marketing. In addition, several other commercial activities, including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and food processing depend on the agricultural produce as a major contributor thereto.

Potential for increaseof agricultural productivity/production:Agricultural resources in the West Bank &Gaza Strip are far from being optimally utilized. The biggest potential exists in rain-fed agriculture such as olives, as the area planted to this crop exceeds 50% of the total planted area in WBGS. Wheat, barley, forage crops, and rangelands, productivity is low compared with the potential productivity. There is huge potential for improving productivity of livestock (meat and milk) by applying the appropriate technical and managerial packages. High prices for locally-produced primary produce should encourage agricultural activity, but there will be a lag phase whilst farmers engage with such opportunities, from a very poor resource base and weakening economy. Appropriate technologies are essential to power the revival, especially water-saving, and agricultural training should be based on this. These involve maximal exploitation of rainfall, through water-harvesting techniques, and the use of drip irrigation, to increase productivity per unit of land and water. Re-use of treated waste water, even at household level, is an important technology, already successfully piloted in Gaza. Backyard and peri-urban/ rooftop gardening, including rabbits and homing pigeons, can be encouraged further. Land reclamation through more adequate terracing is a useful way to enhance land productivity and enforce Palestinians’ rights to continue farming their historical land next to the Separation Barrier and settlement areas. Value-adding activities, to increase farming profitability (for example food processing) are to be encouraged wherever possible to respond to sustained domestic demand.

The hazard of global food price rises is high in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPt) because of the high ‘pass-through percentage’ of changes in global food prices onto domestic markets. The high import dependency for staple foods is compounded by high transportation costs due to the increased fuel costs and border control/closures and punitive tariffs imposed. Gaza: continued siege of the Gaza Strip by Israel, massively reducing the availability of agricultural inputs and stopping exports; agricultural land and assets intentionally damaged by tanks and bulldozers. West Bank: drought over last two years has reduced crop and pasture production; frosts in February 2008 extensively damaged crops; movement restrictions enforced by Israeli troops; enforced land acquisitions/ confiscations of internationally -recognized Palestinian land near the Separation Wall (amounting to 94,000 ha), and illegal Israeli settlements in occupied land; Israel’s full control over Palestinian water resources.

Due to Israeli military orders, certain fertilizers are not allowed to be imported. Otherwise, agricultural input imports through Israel are open, and inputs are mostly available in the West Bank, though tight restrictions and control, including bans, are imposed for the Gaza Strip (a total ban on commercial imports has been enforced since June 2007). Locally produced inputs are limited to small quantities of fodder, organic fertilizers and cereal seeds. Trade of inputs is fully in the hands of the private sector, and in March 2008 the government has fully exempted agricultural inputs from Value Added Tax.

1.2National Agricultural Strategy 2014-2016

The ministry of agriculture has recently prepared a new national agricultural Sector strategy for the period 2014-2016. The future vision of the Palestinian agriculture is:

"Sustainable and viable agriculture enabling to compete at local and international markets, actively contributing in promoting food security and inlinking Palestinians to their land and rights over their resources, there on toward building the state"

Under this vision that has been adopted in light of the results of review of the previous National Agricultural strategy 2011-2013, the following four strategic objectives have been identified for the period 2014-2016 , which reflect the priorities of the agricultural sector development as following:

First strategic objective:

The resilience of farmers (men and women) and their attachment to the land and the contribution of the agricultural sector in the provision of developmental requirements of the State of Palestine have been enhanced.

The recognition of Palestine State asa member of the United Nations became a major turning point in the history of the Palestinian case, particularly with regard to the occupied territories, where the land has become a state occupied which provides great opportunities as well as a challenge politically, economically and developmentally for a Palestinian state .

There is no doubt that agriculture played a key role in enabling the State of Palestine to exploit those opportunities and meet those challenges .requires strengthening the resilience of farmers to their land and transform agriculture into a sustainable activity, provides an income and a reasonable profit enabling them to overcome the negative effects of practices of occupation.

At the same time, the strengthening of the elements of the state is considered as priority, particularly with regard to the development of infrastructure and services and control over the cross borders and the active participation of agriculture in the conventions and events on the regional and international level.

Second strategic objective:agricultural natural resources managed efficiently and sustainably

The land and water management is a major challenge for Palestiniansbecause of the occupation and the distortions imposed by Israel particularly for the confiscation of land, water or / and limit access to it.This situation requires the improvement and more efficient use of those resources by the additionof water resources and a new cultivated land as well as the exploitation of these resources.Hence, the maximizing of their returns, in addition to improving the management of water demand and vertical expansion in the use of resources.

A third strategic objective: the production, productivity and competitiveness of agriculture and its contribution to food security has improved.

Despite the key role of the Palestinian agriculture in achieving food security at the national level and family, the potential of increasing and improving the role is great through horizontal expansion by adding new cultivated land or through the use of modern technologies to improve productivity and production unit, in addition to working to improve the quality of agricultural products and to improve and develop post-harvest treatment and pay attention to operations of agricultural marketing internally and externally, in order to increase exports and production of alternative agricultural products. Achieving this will therefore reduce the cost of agricultural product and make it more competitive in the market and thus increased, particularly for small farmers in addition to improving the return on the used resources.

The fourth strategic objective:theagricultural sector has the capacity and institutional frameworks,the legal environment and agricultural services efficient and effective

Supports of agricultural sector, mainly based on existence of strong institutions, efficiently and effectively working to able to coordinate with each other to accomplish the tasks assigned to them optimally, whether government institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil or private.

This objective will contribute in achieving sustainable agricultural development that directly help on building institutions of state of Palestine, and support and provide with related economic activities for other sectors.

All of the four strategic objectives have been the main directions drivers for formulations other subsector strategy such as Extension, Olive, livestock,..etc.

1.3Agricultural Research System in Palestine

Agricultural research is delivered by the Palestinian National Center for Agricultural Research (NARC) in addition, to the research conducted by the five agricultural colleges in the Al Najah, Hebron, khadouri, Alqudes-opening and Alazhar Universities, in addition of some NGO’s (ARIJ, LRC). In 1999 it was developed a strategy for Agriculture Research and Extension whose objectives were to: Maximize profitability for farmers to improve their standards of living and achieve reasonable levels of food security; Optimize the use and conservation of land and water resources while ensuring their sustainability and environmental protection; Encourage the participation of target groups in all the stages of research and technology transfer; Focus on applied research and technology transfer activities on farmers’ fields, and minimize basic research; Provide effective and efficient research and extension services and involve stakeholders in cost sharing in the future; Institutionalize and strengthen links between agricultural education institutes and research and extension; Encourage farmers to work collectively, and encourage the establishment of farmer groups and commodity boards; and Strengthen relations between national, regional and international research and extension institutions.

The current National Agricultural Research Strategy will be formulated to support of achieving the main objectives of National agricultural Strategy 2014-2017. The strategy as described before aims to reinforce the Palestinian’s approach for the improvement of farmer productivity and livelihood, to assure the sustainable and efficiency management of natural resources, and to ensure high level of food security, These are underpinned by the complementary strategies on good governance, integrated and sustainable rural development, knowledge and innovation, international cooperation and safety and security, all of which require research and scientific interventions having significance in the development of a R&D Strategy.

The mandate of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) is to ensure that research activities and technology would address the social and economic challenges with regards to the increase performance of agriculture identified potential, and recommended the concentration of efforts, in the following areas: Agro-production systems, biotechnology, natural resource management, market development, processing, novel technologies as well as technology transfer together with an enabling the culture of innovation in agriculture, and strategic funding in agriculture, infrastructure

The Agricultural Research in Palestine has the major constraints asfollowing :

  1. Lack of policy and long-term strategic management in research and the linkage mechanisms between agricultural research institutions and their partners.
  2. Weakness of research capacity and organization.
  3. weakness of clarity on how linkages should be strengthened to improve the farmer-extension-researcher linkages.
  4. The need to design and establish suitable institutional linkages to support effective co-ordination and prioritization of research needs at all levels.

The methodology to develop the strategy

The methodology will include two phases and sixsteps as following:

Phase I

Specific Objectives

1-Assessment of the currentstatus of Agricultural Research in Palestine with focus on NARC: institutional framework, governance, management, recruitment procedures, staffing and qualifications of researchers, career and developmental paths of researchers, status of women and youth researchers, research facilities, labs and equipment, financial issues and the constraints.

2-Identification of agricultural research capacity gaps in Palestine thematically, geographically and in all of the above in objective 1 , with focus onformally assessed stakeholders’needs

3-Identification of research priority themes to be included inthe new strategy at the short and long term:detailing objectives, expected outputs and outcomes and impact on the ground. In addition to Monitoring and Evaluation procedures.

Activities

  • Conduct assessment of agricultural research in Palestine, as described in objective 1. During the assessment previous and current strategies of the Agricultural sector, especially the National Agriculture Sector, the Extension, and the subsector strategies in Palestine will be analysed and stakeholders and partners will be identified and participate actively in determining the major challenges
  • Conduct field surveys to identify the research achievements and impact.
  • Perform desk study data collection and analysis of Agricultural research in Palestine. The study will include reviews in relation to agricultural strategy and policies of research, to add to the above activity
  • Conduct a stakeholder workshop where main relevant national stakeholders will participate including MoA, research centres, universities, NGOs, and farmers’ associations to identify, discuss and prioritize their needs in relation to objective 2.
  • Visit major agricultural research centres and universities and organize workshopswith managers and scientific staff to discuss and record the gaps and needs of research and capacity development.
  • Analyse the data collected through the document analysis, workshops, surveys and field visits and summarize the constraints and identify priorities for the development of the Palestinian agricultural researchsystems.
  • Form a National Team for strategy development including all the national stakeholders as a result of the workshops to coordinate and participate in the development of the strategy.

Outputs of Phase I.

  • Stakeholders are identified.
  • National Team for strategy development is formed
  • Major constraints and capacity gaps of the agricultural research systems in Palestine identified and described.
  • Priorities of capacity development, research programs and partnerships areidentified.

Phase II.

Specific objectives

1-Develop NARC research programs of priority areasfor the next 5 years (objectives, methodologies,expected outputs….)

2-Fully describethe needed individual and institutional development and policy reforms and the investment required for NARC(financing strategy /investment plan).

3-Develop a capacity development plan covering individual, organizational and institutional aspects of development and focusing on youth and female contributors.

4-Development of action plan and monitoring and evaluation plan for all elements ofthe new strategy: performance indicators and impact assessment framework.

Activities

  • Conduct workshop with the National Teamto approve the priorities identified in phase I.
  • Conduct workshops with NARES scientists to develop programs of priority areas.
  • Identification of NARCexperimental stations needs toimprove their capacity to implement the new research programs.
  • Conduct stakeholdersworkshopsto develop the action plans for the different elements mentioned in the objectives above and their investment plans.
  • Conduct a final workshop with stakeholders to agree onthe drafted strategy and approve the performance indicators, the monitoring and evaluation and the impact assessment framework.

Outputs