07pfu-4954 - PFU Member Association Strengthening and Empowering
The Palestinian Farmers Union was established in 1993 and it was registered by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. PFU reaches 16 farmers' associations all over Palestinian districts, who are also project beneficiaries: 11 in West Bank and 5 in Gaza strip. These are targeted in this project and reach more than 9.800 member farmers (of whom 15% women). Furthermore PFU reaches about 60 farmers' cooperatives, including 3.040 members. These are active in a.o. grape and palm date cultivation, organic olive oil and other food processing, sheep, beekeeping, protected cultivation, savings and credit and agricultural development (among these are 10 women cooperatives). PFU is regarded as eligible partner to IFAP with a genuine member base-structure and a significant membership base. A prospection mission (June 2007) followed by RPO quick scan (Sept 2007) mark the departure point for project collaboration. The mission enabled assessment of PFU character and outlines, but did yet not lead to further elaboration of the first proposal. Further liaison has lead to a focused proposal now presented to Agriterra for funding. PFU wants to represent Palestinian farmers and assist them in becoming able to defend their rights and benefits and to share actively in the national development of an independent democratic state. As reads the proposal (as derived from more complex wordings - JBO): the general project objective is “to strengthen the PFU structure and empowering the member regional farmers associations through training [ ….. ] to become an important sustainable force in the center of the agricultural and rural sector [ … ] to improve their capacities and infrastructure [ … ] to lead farmers towards their benefits and rights “.