August 30, 2023

Israeli-Palestinian aquaculture farm completes pilot programme

A successful four-year aquaculture pilot project, managed by the Israeli Agriculture Ministry in collaboration with the Civil Administration, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency in charge of civilian affairs in the West Bank, has concluded in Palestinian city of Jenin, yielding several tonnes of bass fish, The Times of Israel reported.

The primary goal of this initiative is to empower West Bank residents to cultivate their own food, bolstering food security within Palestinian communities. To facilitate this, the Israeli Agriculture Ministry extended financial backing, equipment provisions, fish feed, water filtration systems, and comprehensive training sessions to local operators, amounting to a total investment of ILS 700,000 (~US$184,000; ILS 1 = US$0.26)

The initial pilot project in Jenin resulted in a harvest of two to four tonnes of bass fish. Another project with a similar objective is still underway at a fish farm in Tulkarem, also in the West Bank. These endeavours are integral to a broader strategy aimed at fostering economic growth and augmenting food production within the Palestinian territories.

The pilot scheme forms part of a comprehensive programme jointly managed by the Israeli Agriculture Ministry and the Civil Administration. This programme aims to transfer valuable expertise to Palestinian experts across various domains including veterinary medicine, forestry, plant protection, food import, and marketing.

Leveraging Israeli technologies, the aquaculture farms optimize resource utilization through techniques such as constructing open and covered ponds, efficient water filtration, and repurposing wastewater for agricultural irrigation.

Guy Rubinstein, Director of Aquaculture at the Israeli Agriculture Ministry, said that the ultimate objective of these projects is to enable Palestinian self-sufficiency in food production and foster knowledge dissemination among local communities. With the completion of the initial pilot, a Palestinian investor has stepped in to further develop the project, while the ministry remains committed to offering continued professional guidance.

-      The Times of Israel