Project Detail

Combating chemical pesticides through promoting alternative organic farming in Khan Younis and Rafah

The project will contribute to preserve the Palestinian rural environment by promoting organic and mechanical pest control and raising the awareness and qualifications of the farmers concerning the dangers of chemical pesticides and on the use of organic mechanical alternatives. Also, It will start a campaign for lobbying and advocating with the related line ministries and agricultural NGOs on the dangers of chemical pesticides.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Ma'an Development Center/Gaza

Country:

Palestine, State of

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 41,365.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

Project Number:

PAL/02/25

Start Date:

4/2002

End Date:

11/2003

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

Building capacity of 160 farmers through conducting eight one-day workshops on the dangers of dangers chemical pesticides and the safe use of organic alternatives with one hundred and sixty resident?s trainees/farmers and eight one-day workshops on the practical and theoretical techniques of recycling and compost production with one hundred and sixty residents trainees.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Less production cost (up to 35% of the current cost) and sustainable cultivation of soil.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Raising awareness through reprinting of 15 instructional pamphlets concerning plant diseases and how to combat these diseases using organic and mechanical pest control with 15,000 copies disseminated over 12 months to farmers in the targeted areas, producing new educational pamphlet on composting with 1000 copies disseminated to farmers in the targeted areas, organizing one advocacy workshop for local agricultural organizations, the Ministry of Environment ?. On the harmful effect of the chemical pesticides on destroying the soil biodiversity and producing two articles on the techniques of organic pest control and biodiversity

Notable Community Participation

The community are farmers from Khan Younis and Rafah, they are involving in whole project process through planning (the project idea was finalized upon seeing the enthusiasm and interest of the local farmers), implementing (the greenhouse owners are a key element in the execution of the project objectives as well as being the main beneficiaries for the demonstration sites, they are responsible for carrying out the activities and following the procedures conveyed to them by the agricultural engineer) , monitoring and evaluating the project ( the community will be part of the technical team that visits the demonstration site and their opinions and feedback will be highly valuable for the evaluation of the project, the owners of the greenhouses will be involved in the daily monitoring of the project as will be able to assess the results of the demonstration sites with the technical committee)

Project Results

Environmental benefits: The project promoted organic pest control in Tomato cultivation and raised farmers? awareness on the dangers of chemical pesticides on depleting soil quality, contributing to air pollution and equally important harming their health. The project also helped farmers to perceive the agricultural farm waste as a source for producing compost.
Lobbying: Through conducting series of workshops, the project advocated, with related line ministers and agricultural NGOs, for immediate actions to stop the extensive and unrestrained chemical pesticides. At the community level, more than 1800 tomato packages were distributed free of cost along with a brochure explaining the new alternative and the harm of chemical pesticides.
Capacity building: Ma?an conducted 8 on- site training workshops for 160 farmers to enhance their capabilities to promote organic pest control. The demonstration site of two dunums greenhouse was managed as training tool to enhance farmers practical skills.
Income generation: Ma?an and local framers started to develop a marketing strategy aiming at networking with shop proprietors to promote the organic products among customers. An identifying tag, containers, vegetables stands were also distributed to the targeted shops to facilitate the marketing of the product.
Health: The framers and their families have not reported any incidents/ cases of children poisoning or digestion problems after eating the produced vegetables.

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