Short report: “Policies of Agriculture sector and NGOs Strategies”

Dr. Nabil Abu Shamallah, the General Director of Policies by Ministry of Agriculture, presented the agriculture development plan 2017-2020 of the Palestinian Authority, and discussed with the invited guests the main challenges facing the agriculture sector in Gaza Strip. He spoke of the enormous dependence of the agricultural sector on the Palestinian territories by Israel as an occupying power.

As long as Israel control all borders and sea and air sovereignty, a real development will be prevented. The development plan for the agricultural sector 2017-2020 was designed at the highest level, but without an independent state, the development plans remain only on paper. Another important issue from his point of view was the water resource, which is also controlled by Israel.

There was a lively discussion between the speaker and the invited guests from civil society and journalists. Many questions were asked in relation to the serious challenges. The aim of the workshop was to raise the voice of civil society in order to present concepts for solutions.