Improved Access to Markets for Female and Male Fresh Fruits and Vegetable (FFV) Small Scale Producers in the West Bank

• High unemployment (overall > 26.3%, women 39.6%) and food insecurity (overall 34%).
• The agriculture sector is the third largest employer in oPt. (11.5% of Palestinian formal workforce). It employs 91’393 in oPt out of which 75’410 in the West Bank; counting the informal employment would double the figures.
• Underperforming agriculture sector due to restrictions of Israeli occupation system (such as movement restrictions, lack of access to and control over assets, dumping of settlements produce in the local market).
• Area C (63% of the West Bank) under full Israeli control, It is functioning only with one quarter of its capacity. In fact, its economic potential is valued at US$ 3.4 billion of which nearly one third in agriculture.  It host 300’000 Palestinians in 532 communities. (Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy, World Bank - October 2, 2013 ).
• Weak legal frameworks and limited knowledge in production and marketing.
• High dependency (88% of food in West Bank is imported). There is potential to substitute FFV imports from Israel covering 30% of local consumption.
• Limited investments and access to financial resources.
• The FFV sub-sector has high potential to enhance food security and improve livelihoods, thus contributing to income and poverty reduction.

To contribute to sustainable farming and/or an increase in income of small scale women and men fresh fruit and vegetable producers in the West Bank (20% of the farmers in the selected value chains). This would enable to increase the income of small producers in the selected value chains and improve their resilience as well as their integration in a more “small farmer friendly” market and business dynamics.

Direct beneficiaries 3’650 individual farmers and their families.Three regional federations of cooperatives and 15 women groups. ndirectly beneficiaries 108’000 farmers

• Improved and more productive small-farm FFV farming system, with more visible influencing power of women producers;
• More trustful, inclusive and fair market channels for small-farm FFV produce;
• Inclusive and enabling policies and practices stimulating investment and facilitating sub-sector growth pro-actively led by the Palestinian Government and supported by the private sector and international community;
• Preparation, planning for and the start of the implementation for a successful phase out of the olive value chain and scaling up by building upon past achievements and sustainability elements, such as the regional federation of cooperatives and support to women cooperatives.

Risultati principali attesi:  

• Women and men Small Scale Producers (SSPs ) have improved access to affordable production and market services.
• Market actors in different channels have stronger, trustful and equity based business relations with small-scale farmers.
• On time market information available to SSPs and cooperatives creating greater transparency and influence of small farmers.
• Consumers’ and retailers awareness and demand for local FFV products increased.
• The top three sector growth and sustainability impediments, including breaches of International Humanitarian Law and human rights, have been evidenced and are challenged by advocacy work of national and international stakeholders.
• Farmer representative bodies (regional federations / cooperatives) improve the quality, scale of outreach, and financial sustainability of collective services delivered to olive farmers.

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

• Replication and scaling up of some of the good approaches and practices achieved through the olive project are to be replicated to other value chains
• Identification of 3 values chains in the FFV in addition to the olive component.
• Increased knowledge and understanding of the market constraints, risks and potentials for the selected FFV value chains by Oxfam and its national partners (cooperatives and unions included).
• Inclusive approach, participatory approach for the selection of value chains targeted and validation of the inception phase findings including the ProDoc.

In addition to small farmers cooperative, Paltrade Center, PARC and Solutions. Relevant Ministries such as Agriculture and Economy, local authorities and Olive Oil Council and Fresh Produce Council.

High value crops project funded by Netherlands and implemented by FAO.

Synergy and link with the CIDA and DANIDA projects in the sector.

Linkages with the SDC urban agriculture project in Gaza implemented by Oxfam Italy & RUAF. Linkages with SDC Local Governance and TVET project in oPt. Synergies with the SDC domain 1 regarding international humanitarian law

Fase 2 01.05.2015 - 31.10.2017   (Completed)