MA’AN Center Organizes a Seminar about Dealing with Wild Pigs and Tuta Absoluta in Al-Kafryat Area
A seminar was conducted on February 25 to talk about both the issue of wild pigs and the plant disease of tuta absoluta in Al-Kafryat Area, Tulkarem. The seminar was conducted with cooperation with the Ministry of Agricultural and the Ministry of health with a wide participation from local CBOs and village clusters. The head of Al-Kafryat municipality highlighted the important role that MA”AN plays at addressing many important environmental issues that affect general health of individuals and plants. Mr. Imad Zubda announced that his municipality will support any decisions and suggestions that the seminar will take.
Mr. Sharif Jayousi, the representative of the Ministry of Agricultural talked extensively about the nature of tuta absoluta disease and its economical impact on the Palestinian economy. He highlighted the severe economical losses to corps such as tomatoes and identified possible prevention measures to the audience.
Mr. jad Saleh, from the Ministry of health, talked about the phenomenon of wild pigs that occupation forces place on many areas in the West Bank. He pointed out that these pigs destroy many corps especially wheat and vegetables and threaten the lives of farmers. Mr. Saleh mentioned that this issue is being escalated to proper Palestinian authority agencies to intervene to help affected farmers. One participant woman (Um Sami) pointed out that the problem of wild pigs is getting worse when local people dispose their trash near fields. One representative form Al-Kafryat municipality promised that his municipality will seriously take action to detain anyone from improperly disposing of their trash in open areas. He also pointed out that the restriction imposed by the occupation forces to use chemical prescription necessary to fight pigs has contribute to the massive increase in the number of pigs on the filed.
The seminar concluded by holding an open discussion between participants and presented these follow-ups points:
Conducting organized campaigns to identify the places where garbage is being disposed at improperly.
Conducting a detailed study to identify the number of farmers harmed by pigs.
Requesting the forces form the Palestinian Security, with the coordination with Israeli forces, to shoot and kill pigs.
Requesting the immediate compensation to affected farmers and offering them fences for their green houses and lands.
Introducing natural traps that can catch and kill pigs.
Giving compensation to farmers affected from the tuta absoluta disease.
At the end of the seminar, Ms. Suzan Marie, form MA’AM thanked both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture for their participation. Suzan further asked the representatives of these two ministries to communicate the needs and difficulties that farmers at Al-Kafryat face to higher authorities. This seminar is one of the civic debates that is part of the food security program financed by the Australian government through AMENCA II program.
