Pioneering Environmental Project Launched in Safa Village to Strengthen Farmers’ Resilience and Address Climate Challenges

الأراضي المقدسة الخضراء / GHLands

The Head of the Environment Quality Authority (EQA), Eng. Zaghloul Samhan, inaugurated a pioneering environmental project in the village of Safa, west of Ramallah, aimed at strengthening farmers’ resilience to climate challenges and protecting natural resources. The event was attended by representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Palestinian Youth Union, the Safa Village Council, as well as officials from governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and members of the local community.

Speaking during the inauguration, Samhan emphasized that the project represents a practical model of cooperation between national and international institutions and local communities. He noted that the initiative contributes to the implementation of environmental and developmental programs that promote sustainability and safeguard natural resources.

Samhan explained that the project forms part of the Environment Quality Authority’s broader efforts to enhance the capacity of local communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Through sustainable environmental and agricultural solutions, the initiative seeks to support farmers, improve natural resource management, and strengthen food security.

He further highlighted the project's significance in light of the environmental and climate-related challenges facing Palestine, as well as the increasing pressure on natural resources and the ongoing Israeli measures targeting land and resources. He stressed that strengthening citizens’ resilience and ability to remain on their land remains a key objective of national environmental and development efforts.

In addition to its environmental and agricultural dimensions, Samhan noted that the project will create employment opportunities for young men and women and actively involve them in the management and operation of the site, enhancing their role in leading community-based environmental and development initiatives.

For her part, Margon Indrebo, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, described the project as a successful model for helping local communities confront climate challenges through sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and rainwater harvesting practices.

She emphasized the project's contribution to strengthening food security, improving farmers’ livelihoods, and empowering young people, while calling for the replication of similar initiatives across other Palestinian communities to advance environmental sustainability and local development.

Meanwhile, Moharram Al-Barghouthi, Director General of the Palestinian Youth Union, underscored the project's importance in supporting farmers’ resilience and boosting local production. He explained that the initiative aims to provide high-quality locally produced animal feed at affordable prices while establishing a scalable model that can be expanded to other areas across Palestine.

The project is one of several initiatives scheduled to be launched by the Environment Quality Authority this year with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UNDP Small Grants Programme. It focuses on the sustainable production of animal feed through the cultivation of Panicum grass and the hydroponic production of green barley on an area of four dunums. The project also includes the construction of a rainwater harvesting pond and the installation of a solar energy system to power irrigation and feed-production facilities.

The initiative is designed to support livestock breeders and agricultural cooperatives, strengthen food security, and enhance farmers’ ability to withstand climate and economic challenges.

At the conclusion of the event, participants toured the project site and reviewed its various components and implementation stages. They also received detailed presentations on sustainable feed production systems, solar energy technologies, and rainwater harvesting methods, as well as the anticipated role of the project in promoting environmental sustainability, strengthening food security, and supporting Palestinian farmers in the face of ongoing climate and economic pressures.