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 JERUSALEM – How can owls be good for farming? At rst farmers wouldn’t believe it. It was a cultural barrier that the

European Union had to address at the start of its new programme to assist Palestinian farmers in six villages of the Jordan

Valley. EU representatives and their local partners have had a hard time convincing farmers that owls are good for their

land, when, in Arab culture, they are a symbol of doom.

In the past, farmers relied a lot on chemical pesticides: but the programme is telling them that – once

they skip the chemicals – they have the option of producing organic products. Today, at least 13,000

Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley are considering this organic alternative. Owls can be the mod-

ern substitute to chemical pesticides, because they eat mice and rats at night. Kestrels do the rest of 

the job, feasting on the rodents in broad daylight.

‘Raptor pest control as a sustainable resource management model

in the Jordan Valley’ is a three-year project implemented under the

‘EU Partnership for Peace’ programme, nancially supported by theEuropean Union. The initiative aims at the preservation of environ-

mental quality and ecological balance in the Jordan Valley. At the

same time, the project's overall objective is to improve co-operation

and long-term dialogue between Arabs and Israelis in the Jordan

It was a cultural barrier that

the European Union had to address

together with its partner at the start of a new programme

to assist Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley. How can owls be good for

farming? In Arab culture, owls are a symbol of doom. But as time goes by,

results speak for themselves, and farmers are starting to believe that the

birds can be an excellent alternative to chemical pesticides… At the same

time, by working together, Jordanian, Palestinians and Israeli organizations

foster a culture of understanding and dialogue across this troubled region.

Text by : Elias Zananiri

Photos by: Mounes Abu Shilbayeh – ENPI Info Centre

ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 46 This is a series of features on

projects funded by the EU’sRegional Programme, prepared by

 journalists and photographers on

the ground or the ENPI Info

Centre. ENPI Info Centre/EU 2011©

This publication does

not represent the

official view of the EC

or the EU institutions.

The EC accepts no

responsibility or

liability whatsoever

with regard to itscontent.

Political Dialogue > Occupied Palestinian Territories

A good recipe for farming?

Trading pesticides for owlswww.enpi-info.eu

n The Palestine Wildlife Societybrieng the audience on the project

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A good recipe for farming? Trading pesticides for owls. p.2

ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 46

Valley, as a means to

strengthen civil society ac-

tion in peace building.

Palestinian villages,

a hard life to liveAt present, many villages in

the West Bank suffer from a

severe lack of services, in-

cluding access to water,

sanitation, roads, schools,

hospitals and local clinics.

On top of everything

comes the high rate of un-

employment that has a dis-

astrous impact on farmers

and their families, increas-

ing poverty levels. And high tension with the occupying Israeli authorities is daily business. Through this project – which is coordinated by the Hanns Seidel Foundation and imple-

mented by Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli organizations – the EU hopes to foster envi-

ronmental sustainability for agricultural practices, but also to generate a better

environment of coexistence in the region. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Is-

rael, the Palestine Wildlife Society and Amman Centre for Peace and Development, all

make sure that birds are used round the clock by the farmers. Through the daily ex-

changes, they also strive to achieve a culture of understanding and dialogue across this

anguished region. “The idea is to have joint activities,” explains Nasser Ali, the project man-

ager from the Hanns Seidel Foundation, “to have a joint plan against using pesticides.

Each partner is responsible not only for working in their own territory, but also to keep

up the dialogue and activities at regional level. By working together, we can help the

peace process. A concrete example? There is exchange of farmers between countries. They

go and meet each other,” continues Nasser Ali, “they talk about their own experiences,their challenges and how they meet them… Facing concrete common problems helps

people to overcome their differences.”

Building stronger communities The European Union Representative, Christian Berger, is engaged in a tour of many villages

throughout the West Bank. During his visit to the village of Jiftlik, Mr. Berger stressed that

"the EU is deeply committed to the support of these areas of the West Bank: it is critical at

this very time to sustain Palestinians living in communities like these.”

In fact, Jiftlik and its surroundings are also the target of a second EU intervention, designed

to turn ordinary residents into advocates for their rights and services. “Fostering Com-

munity Change” is a three-year project with a budget just over half a million euros. It is

implemented by Oxfam GB and it’s overall aim is to provide Palestinians with access tothe decision making process and with defending their rights within the community. The

target population is people living in the severely impoverished villages of Jiftlik, Fasayel,

Uja, Walajeh, Jaba’a and Zbeidat across the West Bank. "This project will help community

residents to realize and exercise their rights on a local level," continues Berger. "They will

learn how to work with local authorities to demand fair access to services. What is the

main element here? A proper communication and cooperation.”

According to Joan Summers, Oxfam GB acting Country Director, people who are informed

and engaged nd it much easier to feel they have a stake in what happens, which is es-

pecially important when trying to support a family in such difficult circumstances. At the

end of the day, she says, these farmers need a better future and a stronger community.

And providing ordinary people with access to the decision making process is the key to

building a stronger community.

 The EU has a number of local partners that work on this programme, including Palestinian

Vision (PalVision), the Ansar Centre for Children, The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion

of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), and the Women's Study Centre. Represen-

“The EU is

deeply com-

mitted to the

support of 

these areas of 

the West

Bank: it is crit-

ical at thisvery time to

sustain Pales-

tinians living

in communi-

ties like

these”

“It is through

the empow-

erment of lo-

cal communi-

ties to realize

and exercise

their rights,

that real,

long-term

change in the

everyday life

of Palestini-

ans can be

achieved”

“People talk about

their own experi-

ences, their chal-

lenges and how

they meet them…Facing concrete

common problems

helps people to

overcome their dif-

ferences.”

nAl Walaja, children wearingT-shirts ‘Peace starts here’

written on them

nOne of the beneciaries of Jiftlik village addressing the EU delega-

tion

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tatives of those organizations work with village councils, local organizations, women, youths, and other stakeholders

in the community to form community committees. In turn, these committees work with the local authorities to iden-

tify the needs of the community as a whole. A citizen’s handbook dening rights and services will also be produced

in the framework of the project. “The EU is deeply committed to the support of these deprived areas,” concludes Mr.

Berger, “and this project is central to this EU objective. It is through the empowerment of local communities to realize

and exercise their rights, that real, long-term change in the everyday life of Palestinians can be achieved.”

www.en i-info.eu

  n r

Middle East Peace Projects (Partnership for Peace)

A good recipe for farming? Trading pesticides for owls. p.3

ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 46

Participating countries

Israel, Jordan and Occupied

Palestinian Territory

Timeframe

Ongoing

Budget 

Annual budget ranging

from €5-10 million

 Aims

 The Partnership for Peace (PfP) supports initiatives in areas which are likely to have a direct impact

on people’s everyday lives and welfare, including practical activities to promote communication

and understanding. Projects include mechanisms for conict management and educating

communities about dealing with disputes and promoting peace. The PfP also seeks to strengthen

and increase direct civil society relationships and cooperation, based on equality and reciprocity

between Israelis, Palestinians and other Arabs. On average, 15 projects are selected each year, with

a maximum duration of 36 months, and EC contributions ranging from €50,000 – €500,000. The

“Raptor pest control as a sustainable management model in the Jordan Valley in support of the

Middle East peace process” is one of them.

Find out more

ENPI Info Centre project che > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=11&id_type=10

Political dialogue - Thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=3

 The ENPI Info Centre is an EU-funded RegionalInformation and Communication projecthighlighting the partnership between the EU andNeighbouring countries. The project is managed

by Action Global Communications.

www.enpi-info.eu

Supports local and international civil society initiatives that promote peace, tolerance and nonviolence in the Middle East

Fostering community change in the occupied Palestinian territory

Contractor :

Oxfam GB LBG (UK)

Partner/s: Palestinian Vision (PA), Ansar Centre for Children (PA), Women's Study Centre (PA), Miftah (PA)

Starting date/End date:15/12/2009, 15/12/2011

Total amount: 533,780 EUR

Summary: The project seeks to empower communities in the West Bank to actively participate in community

development processes and to contribute to better access to services through enhanced local governance

structures and processes.More info:

European Union technical assistance office for the West Bank & Gaza Strip >

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/index_en.htm