Page 37 - AA 2026

Palestine

FAO scales up conditional cash assistance to

1000 more farmers, calls for liberalization

of private sector imports of agricultural inputs

The Food and Agriculture Orga-
nization of the United Nations (FAO)
today scaled up conditional cash as-
sistance to support reactivation of lo-
cal crop production by an additional
1 000 farmers in the Gaza Strip.
With cash assistance, FAO conser-
vatively estimates that 1 000 farmers
can produce enough vegetables to
produce about 5 000 metric tonnes
(MT) of vegetables and feed nearly
95 000 people for one year. How-
ever, this is barely half of what these
farmers can achieve amid continued
blockages on imports of agricultural
inputs.
If full and unrestricted entry of agri-
cultural inputs and equipment is per-
mitted (non-dual use and dual use), Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), (oPt HF), provided cash support to
FAO estimates that the same num- 37 percent of the cropland in the Gaza 200 farmers in Khan Yunis and Deir al-
Balah. In just six months, the farmers
ber of farmers can produce about 12 Strip is now physically accessible for
800 MT of fresh vegetables and feed rehabilitation and cultivation. This were able to cultivate an impressive
about 165 000 individuals for one includes about 6 000 dunums of un- 533 tonnes of fresh vegetables. The
year, or approximately 8 percent of damaged land that, when farmers scaleup to an additional 1 000 farm-
ers will enhance outcomes on food
the population. have needed resources, can be used
to reactivate food production and ag- security, nutrition, employment and
“In view of currently very high lo- ricultural livelihoods. incomes, and help stave off a return
cal input prices, FAO calls for the full to famine-like conditions in the Strip.
liberalization of imports of agricultur- However, farming inputs that are The scaleup is funded by Belgium,
al inputs by the private sector, start- needed to restart production are the Ministry for Europe and Foreign
ing with non-dual use items. Import still scarce. When inputs are permit- Affairs of France, and other resource
licenses should be assigned directly ted entry, it is often in isolation. This partners through FAO’s Special Fund
to local importers and distributors approach is insufficient to reactivate for Emergency and Resilience Activi-
that are specialized in agricultural in- production at scale because multiple, ties (SFERA).
puts, were registered before the con- complementary inputs must be avail- “Our conditional cash assistance
flict, and are still active. Rehabilita- able in a timely manner for each in- initiative has clearly demonstrated
tion and reconstruction of farms and dividual seed to germinate into seed- that, when farmers have access to
other production facilities will require ings and effectively produce crops. suitable agricultural inputs, they can
liberalization of dual use equipment With agricultural inputs effectively grow crops. With full and unrestrict-
used by farmers, fishers, herders and blocked, FAO is providing condition- ed access to imported inputs from the
agrifood professionals”, said Ciro Fio- al cash assistance to support limited private sector, farmers, herders and
rillo, Head of Office, FAO West Bank production by farmers on at least 1 fishers can lead the agrifood sector in
and Gaza Strip.
dunum each. A recently completed playing a key role in recovery and re-
According to an October 2025 as- pilot, funded by the occupied Pales- silience building for the Gaza Strip,”
sessment from FAO and the United tinian territory Humanitarian Fund Fiorillo said.
Arab Agriculture 2026 35