Bi-weekly Report June 24 - July 5, 2012

During the reporting period from June 24th to July 5th, 2012, the project team attended a workshop at the Nablus Water Treatment Plant, where they discussed the feasibility of using reclaimed wastewater for agriculture. The workshop, organized by the Nablus Municipality, aimed to raise awareness about the potential benefits of reclaimed water, decrease the gap between water demand and supply, increase agricultural production, and create new job opportunities. The Compete project has also planned a study tour to Jordan in early September, which will bring together Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) officials and Jordanian counterparts, along with farmers, to visit successful sites that have reused water for agriculture. This tour is expected to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration between the two countries. Additionally, the project has initiated a pilot test using Swiss technology, known as the Aqua 4D System, for physical water treatment. Four units of the system are being manufactured in Switzerland and are scheduled to be delivered to four sites in the Jordan Valley in late August. A Swiss technical team will arrive on September 3rd to assist the local team in installation and training. The trial will cover various crops, including seedless grapes, dates, fresh herbs, and vegetables, with the aim of addressing nematode problems, water salinity, and reducing fertilizer usage. Furthermore, the Compete project has sent a fact-finding mission to Dubai to explore the potential adoption of new technologies, including the Japanese hydro-membrane technology for soilless cultivation media. The team met with several companies, including Agricell, Al-Sughaiyer Trading Company, NRTC, Fruit and Vegetable company, and Mirack Agricultural Services, to discuss the feasibility of introducing this technology in the Palestinian areas. The meetings with these companies revealed that the major issue facing Palestinian fresh produce is the need to increase the quality of packaging to be competitive in the market. The Palestinian fresh herbs are gradually gaining brand recognition from consumers, and there is a focus on specific products that can be sold in niche markets, such as supermarket chains. Al-Sughaiyer company has expressed willingness to host Palestinian farmers and experts to learn more about the hydroponic technology employed at their farm. NRTC and Fruit and Vegetable company, major importers of Palestinian fresh herbs in the UAE, are highly satisfied with the quality of the product and intend to ramp up purchases. However, they require more information on the capabilities and possible quantities from Palestinian exporters.