Ministry of Agriculture: Jenin Agriculture Directorate and FAO sign 6 agricultural project agreements worth approximately 2.2 million shekels within the (MAP2) project

Jenin – April 5, 2026

Jenin Directorate of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), signed six agreements to support agricultural investment in the governorate, with a total value of approximately 2.2 million shekels. This initiative falls under the Multi-Donor Agricultural Business Program II (MAP II), "Promoting Market-Oriented Investments and Innovations for the Development of a Sustainable Agricultural and Food System" in the West Bank, and was sponsored by the Governor of Jenin Governorate, Mr. Kamal Abu Al-Rub.

The agreements encompass a range of diverse agricultural projects, including the development of plant and animal production and renewable energy. These projects include three projects for cultivating strawberries using modern technologies, a greenhouse project resistant to natural conditions and climate change, a solar energy project, and another for the production of alternative animal feed (Azolla). These projects aim to strengthen agricultural value chains, increase the added value of local products, support employment opportunities, and improve the income of farming families. To date, 58 beneficiaries in Jenin Governorate have benefited from the MAP II project.

The agreements were signed at Jenin Governorate headquarter, in the presence of Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub, Jenin Agriculture Director General Omar Bisharat, along with directorate staff, FAO Field Support Specialist Abdul Qader Abadi, and a number of farmers benefiting from the project.

Engineer Omar Bisharat emphasized that the signing of these agreements comes at a critical time for the governorate, requiring support for farmers, particularly in marginalized areas. He stressed that investing in the land is an investment in steadfastness and survival, and that the Ministry continues to support farmers and develop their projects to contribute to the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

For his part, Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub affirmed the importance of these projects in strengthening farmers' resilience and supporting agricultural investment, especially given the challenges facing the agricultural sector. He commended the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and the FAO in enabling farmers to remain on their land, and noted the governorate's commitment to developing the agricultural sector due to its vital role in supporting the local economy and enhancing food security.

The implementation of these projects comes within the framework of investment support agreements under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, and with funding from the governments of Denmark, Switzerland, Spain and the European Union, in addition to parallel funding from the Italian government, within the project to promote innovative and sustainable market-oriented investments in the agri-food sector in the West Bank, which contributes to supporting sustainable development and enhancing investment and employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.