Augmenting Food Production and Income in Times of Siege: Women’s Gardens

Project Information
Augmenting food production and income for women in Gaza, Palestine through Urban Gardens
Describe the need affecting community
How will this Advance project help to address the need?
The project, developed according to the needs of the beneficiaries with their input, will provide a sustainable and growing source of income and nutrition for the families by providing them with animals such as rabbits and chickens (or, when households have sufficient land, other animals such as goats or sheep) for breeding, and a plant unit (45 sq. mile green house which allows food production all year round for the family) to grow food. The families will also receive ongoing technical assistance to help them with their urban food production operations. The women use rooftops or other small strips of land around the house for their food production. For example, in the case of rabbits, within a year each rabbit will produce an average of 40 rabbits which can be sold for a net value of $400. And the plant unit will generate an estimated $700 per season (3 to 4 months) which will result in an average of $2500 per year. The targeted families will continue to sustain their operations beyond the project’s end as they generate income from the food production. The project is implemented in Gaza by our partner, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) which operates a number of other projects involving food production and water infrastructure in Gaza, of which this just one.
Describe the primary goal of the project
To increase nutrition and economic resiliency among 250 poor vulnerable, women-headed households affected by the 2014, war on Gaza.
Describe the change you would like to see in the community as a result of this Advance project
• Improvement of food security for targeted households living in extremely challenging social and economic situations. • Improved income for the families as a result of the increased food production. • Improved nourishment of family members. • Families become more aware of effective agricultural practices.