Ministry of Agriculture: Qalqilya Agriculture Directorate and the FAO sign two investment support agreements for beneficiaries in Qalqilya and Ras Atiya within the (MAP II) program with a total value of (630,810) thousand shekels

Qalqilya: April 29, 2026

Qalqilya Directorate of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization  (FAO), signed two agreements to support agricultural investment in the governorate. These agreements fall under the Multi-Donor Agricultural Business Program – Phase II (MAP II), which aims to promote market-oriented investments and innovations, contributing to the development of a sustainable agricultural and food system in the West Bank.

The total value of the two agreements is approximately 630,810 NIS. They include the implementation of two key projects. The first project involves equipping a groundwater well with a solar energy system for the Ras Atiya Cooperative Society for Agricultural Development, thereby improving water resource efficiency and reducing production costs. The second project in Qalqilya involves establishing a honey bottling line for farmer Wissam Nadim Hamed Harsh Nazzal, which will strengthen agricultural value chains and increase the added value of local products.

These projects also contribute to supporting employment opportunities and improving the income of farming families, in addition to enhancing the sustainability of agricultural production in the targeted areas. The number of projects signed with beneficiaries under the MAP II program in Qalqilya Governorate has reached 15 to date, with a total value of 3,665,000 NIS. This is part of ongoing efforts to expand the beneficiary base and maximize the developmental impact of agricultural projects.

The two agreements were signed at the Qalqilya Governorate headquarters, under the auspices of His Excellency the Governor of Qalqilya, Major General Hussam Abu Hamda, and in the presence of the Director General of Qalqilya Agriculture Directorate, the project coordinator at the directorate, Engineer Tayseer Basalat, the FAO representative, Engineer Yousef Kanaan, and the Director of the Cooperative Work Sector at the Qalqilya Labor Directorate, Ms. Suzan Habash, along with staff from the Agriculture Directorate and the Governorate.

Attendees emphasized that the signing of these agreements comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to strengthen the resilience of farmers through investment in sustainable production projects that contribute to improving livelihoods. They stressed the importance of partnerships with international organizations in supporting and developing the agricultural sector, thereby enhancing food security and the local economy. These agreements are implemented within the framework of the (MAP II) program implemented by the FAO in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, with funding from the governments of Denmark, the European Union, Spain and Switzerland, in addition to parallel funding from the Italian government, with the aim of promoting innovative and sustainable market-oriented investments in the agri-food sector in the West Bank.