The EU funded project “Water and Environment Support” (WES) is supporting Palestine to improve the productivity of the agricultural sector, by building the capacity of relevant authorities responsible for monitoring irrigation projects and irrigation savings, in addition to the responsible technical Water Users Association’s (WUA) staff, on optimal irrigation management using fresh and treated wastewater.
During 2021, the WES team of water experts collected data and information on the existing irrigations methods and practices in two pilot areas in Palestine namely: Wadi Arroub Water user Association (Al Arroub – Hebron), and Bab Al Sahel Water user Association (Deir al Ghusoun – Tulkarm). This was complemented with meetings with representatives of the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the two WUAs and the representatives of farmers in the pilot areas after which, an on-line Workshop was held on the 9th of May 2022.
During the Workshop, the conclusions of the inception phase were presented, as well as the definitions of requirements and resources needed from the partners. An interesting exchange of information and practices took place between the stakeholders such as managers of irrigation water saving projects in the pilot areas, local authorities and consultants, NGOs and civil associations linked to the environment and water.
By the end of the WES event, all parties agreed on: enriching the knowledge of the authorities responsible for monitoring irrigation projects and irrigation savings in Palestine; training government technical staff and WUAs and representatives from the private sector & civil society organisations active in the field, and on measures to increase Water Use Efficiency and productivity in collective irrigation systems; increasing the farmers’ awareness regarding the optimal irrigation practices (using fresh water or treated wastewater) and welcomed all relevant actions to be undertaken during the WES project.
