Limited access to water is one of the most pressing problems Palestinian farmers and herders face in the West Bank. Without constant access to water, farmers are unable to achieve the productivity gains that are conducive to broader rural economic growth. This threatens the food security of rural communities and can ultimately limit the available employment opportunities for landless workers and other vulnerable groups living in rural areas. In particular, in Jenin and Hebron Governorates, because of little or almost no rainfall, access to water resources has become increasingly sporadic and scarce. The poorest farming households are the most affected, due to their reliance on rain-fed agriculture. In order to address water scarcity and promote rural employment, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, with the support of FAO and the European Union, launched a US$1.9 million project in 2011. The project assisted communities to rehabilitate old water cisterns and build new ones as well as providing training to local beneficiaries on good agricultural and water management practices.

For Information, please visit the following link: FAO helps improve food security of rural households in the West Bank