Location: West Bank
the Weqaya project, which aims to raise the quality of the olive oil production for export purposes. The project aims to improve the economic returns of olive oil production whilst ensuring that the organic olive oil and its derivative products are free from toxic materials typically used in pesticides against insects and weeds in the rural areas of Salfit, Tulkarem.
The project?s main activities are to conduct applied research on the chemicals used in traditional and best practices in olive farming to measure the impact of using pesticides on the quality of the olive oil. The activities will include
? A study on the linkages between the effects on human and environmental health of the farming activities and their ability to market their products.
? There will be the training of 20 farmers through the provision of 10 training hours and the required farming tools such as organic fertilizers and other harvesting tools needed for harvest and storage such as ladders, boxes, combs, stanless steel containers, etc.. The ownership of the equipment will be by the agricultural associations and cooperatives in order to ensure they are shared with the largest possible number of beneficiaries.
? An awareness program will be conducted about the effects of pesticide use on the general health and the environment and the farmer?s ability to market their produce cost-effectively. This awareness rasing activity will include radio and TV advertising in the local media, baskets containing organic olive oil for distribution to different institutions for the promotion of organic farming and an informational brochure will be developed and circulated.
This work will be done in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to hold a public awareness program. This project will be cofinanced with the villages project in 10,000 USD in cash and 2,000 in kind..Through the village project Juhoud is conducting a study about the farming practices and habits in Palestinian community and its effect on olive oil production, and how we can help farmers to develop their olive oil production and practices, through this study Juhoud will benefit from project partners experience in this sector.
This general study will be improved and enriched by this project study which will represent more scientific on laboratory tests and by the end will encourage farmers and other stakeholders to support organic farming