Monday, April 17, 2006

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Richard Jones – US Ambassador, Tel Aviv

H.E. Mr. Jacob Walles – US Consul General Jerusalem

Dear Ambassador Jones and Ambassador,

We are writing to you about a pending crisis in Gaza regarding agricultural production; the livelihood of the family farms; and, the availability of food supplies for the population of Gaza.  Without assistance, the 65 thousand family farmers in Gaza will not be able to procure production inputs, such as seedlings and fertilizer, for the upcoming season.  Some inputs, such as seedling supplies must be ordered in the spring and summer, so this topic is of immediate importance.  If the seedling stock is not ordered and paid for, there will not be any stock available for planting.

Normally, some assistance is provided by the Agricultural Cooperatives in Gaza that purchase seedlings and other production inputs for their farmer-members and then collect payment for that inputs at harvest time.  However, because of two consecutive seasons of losses due to the closure of Gaza through the Karni crossing, the Cooperatives do not have the financial means to continue this practice for the upcoming 2006/07 season.  This sector of agriculture is in serious jeopardy.  The Gaza Cooperatives were damaged financially by the continued closure at Karni and therefore, they will not be able to provide financing to their farmer members for operating inputs in the future.

Out of the approximately 65 thousand small family farmers in Gaza, about 20 thousand are members of Cooperatives that supply common services, one of which is financing production inputs.  Many production inputs, such as seedlings, come from Israel and payment in required in advance.  Therefore, individual farmers are unable to finance these inputs, especially after the past two years’ losses.

Seedling stock must be ordered from Israeli nurseries in April for open-field planting and in June for greenhouse planting.  This includes the production of a wide variety of vegetables and food products for individual consumption and to financially support basic family survival needs.

IPCRI has been working with the Gaza farmers for the past decade in supporting them with technical support and training. Some of these programs were funded with the support of USAID such as work that we have been conducting in the field of alternatives for methyl bromide and the very important training and certification program of Eurep-Gap.  We have approached USAID directly and through ANERA to continue these programs which are crucial to the farmers and which build Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in a very productive and mutually beneficial way.  We hope that USAID will be able to respond positively to these requests.

Additionally, the PAPA Project has been working through the Cooperative Partners and we believe this work should not only be continued, it should be expanded to work with The Gazan Farmers Association and local NGO’s to expanded the impact of the PAPA Project to reach all of the farmers to provide seedlings, fertilizer and other inputs so the farmers in Gaza can survive the coming season and continue to provide food to the local population.  Production inputs are basic needs of agriculture and these inputs are required in order to prevent a mass collapse of the food production system and devastation to the family farmers.

Agriculture is a field that cannot survive delays.  This economic sector is inextricably linked to climate and seasons and therefore, there must be an immediate response to this request.  The livelihood of tens of thousands of people is at stake.  We don’t wish to see these people who have been productive their whole lives to end up on the growing lines of people seeking humanitarian aid and welfare.  We hope that you will use your influence to encourage the decision makers in Washington to provide continued support for these people and organizations.

Sincerely,

Gershon Baskin and Hanna Siniora

Co-CEOs

Read more on the deteriorating situation in Gaza