Ministry of Agriculture: Bethlehem Agriculture, in partnership with FAO and the Arab Agricultural Engineers Association, conclude the field school activities for olive and grape crops in Husan and Battir, with the participation of 45 beneficiaries

Bethlehem, May 7, 2026

Bethlehem Governorate Directorate of Agriculture concluded its specialized field school activities for olive and grape crops in the towns of Husan and Battir. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to develop the agricultural sector and enhance farmers' skills through the "Supporting Sustainable Tourism" project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Arab Agricultural Engineers Association. Forty-five farmers from the targeted areas participated in the program.

The activities included practical demonstrations of best agricultural practices aimed at improving productivity and protecting crops. These included the deployment of yellow and attractant traps as part of integrated pest management programs, designed to monitor and control pest infestations safely and environmentally friendly ways. Additionally, modern irrigation networks were installed to ensure optimal water use and improve irrigation efficiency in the targeted orchards.

The activities were carried out with the presence and on-site supervision of technical teams from Bethlehem Directorate of Agriculture, with the participation of the Director of the Agricultural Extension Department, Engineer Hussein Subh, the coordinator of the Olive Field School, Engineer Nevin Salameh, the coordinator of the Vine Field School, Engineer Yousef Salah, and the head of the Husan Agriculture Office, Engineer Ramzi Manasra.

The Ministry of Agriculture affirmed that these field schools contribute to transferring modern scientific knowledge and expertise to farmers in a practical and direct manner, thereby enhancing their ability to implement sound agricultural practices and improve production quality. This also strengthens farmers' resilience and links agricultural activity to the concept of sustainable tourism, while preserving agricultural lands as a national and economic heritage.