A joint visit to Khazaa town in Khan Yunis Governorate, Gaza Strip.

A delegation from FAO represented by Ciro Fiorillo, Head of FAO's office in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and advisers from the Netherlands Representative Office, represented by economic adviser Wijnand Marchal, jointly visited the eastern region of Khazaa town in Khan Yunis Governorate, Gaza Strip, to assess the needs of the agricultural sector in this area.

The joint delegation was received by officials from the Khuzaa Permaculture Center Association (KPCA), headed by Chairman Tayseer Kodeih and Project Coordinator Mohammed Abu Ali; Ma’an Center representative Yusef Kodeih; and representatives of the local community.

The FAO delegation discussed views and ideas that will be taken into consideration in future agricultural development programmes, especially with regard to water projects. It identified key issues in the region, notably the scarcity of water for irrigation, high water salinity that negatively affects agricultural production, and the huge damage that the agricultural sector suffered due to successive natural and other disasters.

The delegation also listened to officials explaining the region’s future needs, including the rehabilitation of the basic agricultural elements through farmland reclamation and reestablishment of green houses, poultry farms, bee farms, and rainwater harvesting pools. The delegation was also briefed on the problems of marketing and exporting of crops to local and foreign markets.

The delegation visited the rainwater collection cistern southeast of Khuzaa and promised to work to rehabilitate the cistern and consider the installation of a water reservoir and pipes to provide suitable water for farmers, particularly in the summer.

At the end of the visit, the KPCA chairman praised FAO and the Dutch government for their continuous support for the agricultural sector and for their efforts to empower farmers and provide them with the necessary resources to achieve self-reliance and sustainable development.