Civil Organizations Hold a Specialized Workshop for the Agricultural Sector and Present Recommendations to Expand Coordination to Serve Farmers

SadaNews - The specialized workshop organized by the agricultural sector for the Palestinian Network of Civil Organizations emphasized the importance of reviving the fundamental role of all sector institutions in framing mechanisms for joint coordination and collaboration among all institutions according to their specialties within the current situation, and the challenges facing the agricultural sector in Palestine, in order to institutionalize work and organize the relationship among all institutions, and expand the base of joint coordination under the umbrella of the network and its role and objectives. This is aligned with the main strategic goal for the sector, which is to strengthen the steadfastness of farmers and agricultural communities in the face of the ongoing attempts of uprooting and targeting by the occupation and settlers.

The workshop, attended by agricultural sector institutions, reviewed the activation of the sectors' roles in relation to the government and official bodies based on clear principles within the framework of the Associations Law No. 1 of 2000, to ensure a complementary relationship in providing services and working with targeted villages and rural areas, and to enhance ways to protect farmers' rights to work and access the best services. It also aimed to activate the laws intended to defend their issues and establish legislation that would safeguard the rights of this segment, which holds significant importance at the national and economic levels. The workshop discussed ways to activate participation in regional and international coalitions and convey the narrative to entities and institutions in the context of mobilizing international support amid systematic targeting and reduction of funding and support due to Israeli pressures.

During the workshop held in Ramallah, the current state of the sector and the challenges facing work at all levels were reviewed. The importance of working in a common conceptual framework that enhances collective action in line with the sector's strategic orientations was highlighted. Additionally, an analysis of aspirations and the future vision for work, especially in areas classified as "C," was discussed to draw a unified strategy for work through clear tools that frame the public policies on agreed-upon issues and identify the various political, economic, social, and demographic axes.

Over the course of the two days, many examples and practical direct models were presented, alongside group work and the submission of papers and proposals aimed at enhancing efforts based on direct participatory interaction. Many issues were discussed to organize the framework's work according to a defined structure and agree on a coordinator for the sector, activate its regular meetings and reports, alongside working on advocacy and pressure mechanisms to adopt farmers' concerns and address them from a comprehensive rights-based perspective. The workshop also discussed proposals for practical documentation of Israeli violations against farmers and the establishment of an interactive platform to collect information and disseminate it to relevant bodies and institutions, as well as increasing fieldwork and projects aimed at stabilizing farmers on their land within the framework of empowering grassroots bodies representing farmers and advocating for policies that meet their basic needs, while raising awareness of these issues.