Ministry of Agriculture: Ramallah and Al-Bireh Agriculture Directorate and the FAO sign two investment support agreements for farmers in Beit Liqya and Deir Ibzi’ within the (MAP II) program with a total value of (882,000) shekels

Ramallah: April 28, 2026

Ramallah and Al-Bireh 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 Programme (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 agreements is approximately 882,000 NIS. They include the implementation of a range of diverse agricultural projects, most notably the development of an integrated vegetable farm. This includes the construction of three dunams of greenhouses, a 500-cubic-meter metal water tank, smart irrigation systems, a solar energy unit, and water tanks. An additional solar energy unit will be installed in the town of Beit Liqya.

The agreements also include the establishment of a date processing and packaging unit, complete with all necessary equipment, in the town of Deir Ibzi'. This will strengthen agricultural value chains, increase the added value of local products, support employment opportunities, and improve the income of farming families. According to available data, the number of beneficiaries of the MAP II program in the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate has reached 29 so far, as part of ongoing efforts to expand the beneficiary base and maximize the developmental impact of agricultural projects.

The agreements were signed at Ramallah and Al-Bireh Agriculture Directorate headquarters, in the presence of the Director General, Engineer Zafer Al-Hamshari, the project coordinator, Engineer Mu'taz Hamdan, and the FAO representative, Engineer Saleh Al-Ahmad.

Engineer Al-Hamshari emphasized that the signing of these agreements comes at a critical time for the governorate, necessitating intensified efforts to bolster the resilience of farmers, particularly in marginalized areas. He stressed that investing in the land is a fundamental pillar for strengthening stability and steadfastness, and affirmed the Ministry's continued support for farmers and the development of their projects to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

He also commended the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in enabling farmers to remain on their land, noting the importance of developing the agricultural sector due to its pivotal role in supporting the local economy and enhancing food security. These agreements are implemented within two projects carried out by the FAO in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture. The MAP II program is funded by the governments of Denmark, Switzerland, Spain and the European Union, in addition to parallel funding from the Italian government, within a project aimed at promoting innovative and sustainable market-oriented investments in the agri-food sector in the West Bank.