Clusters Development Plan - Agricultural Cluster - Jenin 2021-2023

This Agricultural Cluster Plan for the province of Jenin comes within the framework of the Government's approach to adopting a comprehensive economic development methodology according to the Clusters system, intending to (i) contribute to achieving sustainable competitive advantages for the Palestinian economy in all geographical areas and (ii) develop and encourage investment in all sectors. This is to realize what is stated by the Vision for the region of achieving excellence and quality in the agricultural sector to provide job opportunities, income, and food security for the citizen in a sustainable manner, and contributing to advancing economic growth in the governorate through the investment of natural resources, available market opportunities, and knowledge. The Plan is based on the following pillars (i) promote access to agricultural lands, water and natural resources, and markets; (ii) increase investment in the agricultural sector and strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors; (iii) find alternatives and solutions to adapt to the phenomenon of climate change; (iv) activate the role of agricultural institutions, especially those concerned with small farmers, and improving the role of women and youth in agriculture and rural development; (v) give high priority to the restoration of the agricultural sector and the provision of budgets and appropriate support, whether from the general budget or donor countries and institutions.
To make agriculture more productive and sustainable, the interventions will be directed to (i) increase the irrigated areas by increasing the quantities of water available for agricultural irrigation through improving the efficiency of its use and increasing the efficiency of the irrigation system; (ii) improve water harvesting of rain water and runoff water (i.e. by rehabilitating underground wells); (iii) establish agricultural irrigation units, harvest rainwater through collection wells, and use alternative energy in operating water sources; (iv) develop the use of treated wastewater in agriculture; (v) protect lands from degradation by reclaiming, rehabilitating, and planting fruit trees, in addition to building agricultural roads to facilitate farmers' access to their lands to cultivate and serve them; (vi) introduce new varieties that have a competitive advantage in production and suited to the climatic conditions, such as rain-fed tree nuts and olives and early-production grape varieties; (vii) cultivate varieties tolerant to environmental conditions, provide grafted vegetable seedlings, and introduce hydroponics; (viii) expand fish farming projects; (ix) develop extension and veterinary services in the governorate.
In order to enhance more efficient and inclusive agricultural and food systems, the Plan envisages (i) private sector contributions to developing value chains for agricultural commodities through the development of input and output manufacturing, the supply and installation of solar energy units for cattle, sheep, and poultry farms, and post-harvest facilities in terms of packing, grading, and storage; (ii) support and training of cooperative societies, and establishment of multi-specialty field schools; (iii) financing project opportunities for investors and recent graduates; (iv) development of means for government and civil society institutions to provide various services to farmers and the agricultural sector; (v) support to agricultural associations, youth and women, in addition to developing services provided by the government; (vi) promotion of investments by creating an enabling environment and contributing to the provision of financing sources for companies to invest under concessional terms.
As for Governance, to manage the implementation of the Plan the following bodies will be established and provided of the necessary powers (i) Higher Ministerial Committee; (ii) Technical Ministerial Committee; (iii) Governorate Committee; and (iv) Plan Implementation Team.