Ministry of Agriculture launches a new batch to support 192 young men and women in Bethlehem, within the Green Jobs Project to develop 1200 dunams of agricultural land.

• 192 young men and women benefit from financial grants to expand agricultural activities and enhance income sources.

• Agricultural work completed on 485 dunams, with interventions planned for 1,200 dunams in the next phase.

• The Ministry of Agriculture and FAO partnership, funded by the Danish government, opens new horizons for green employment in rural Palestine.

Bethlehem: June 22, 2026:

Minister of Agriculture, Professor Riziq Slaimiya, distributed financial grants to 192 young beneficiaries (aged 19-29) from Kisan, Tuqu', Za'tara, and Al-Minya in Bethlehem Governorate. This is part of the first phase of the "Green Jobs and Sustainable Income Opportunities for Young Palestinian Men and Women in the Agricultural and Food Sector" project. The project is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and with support from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. It aims to support farmers and young people, promote the cultivation of field and fodder crops, improve agricultural production, and create sustainable income opportunities in rural areas.

The first phase benefited 192 young men and women from various targeted communities. The project aims to implement agricultural work on 1,200 dunams, of which 485 dunams were completed during the first phase. The second phase is scheduled to begin in October and November to complete the planned interventions.

This took place in the presence of the Governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Muhammad Taha; the President of Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Samir Hazboun; the representative of (FAO), Mr. Saleh Al-Ahmad; as well as the Assistant Undersecretaries of the Ministry, Mr. Ahmad Zakarna, Eng. Hussam Talib, and Mr. Tariq Abu Laban; and the Director General of the Bethlehem Directorate of Agriculture, Eng. Abdul Wahab Halaqa.

Slaimiya emphasized that the Ministry continues to support farmers and youth through productive projects that enhance food security and resilience on the land. He stressed the importance of investing in young people's potential and expanding employment and production opportunities in the agricultural sector.