Signing An Agreement Of Irrigation Plants With Waste Water Treatment Plants In West Nablus
Nablus Municipality, the Ministry of Finance and the Palestinian Water Authority have signed an agreement to implement a project of irrigation of agricultural land adjacent to the treatment plant, which will be funded by the German Federal Government through the German Development Bank (KfW).
The project will contribute to the replanting and irrigation of about three thousand hectares of agricultural land, with water purified by the treatment plant according to international quality standards. More than ten thousand cubic meters of water will be treated in the plant per day and the total value of this vital project is ten million euros.
The Mayor of Nablus, Eng. Adly Yaish, said that this project is a comprehensive milestone in the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector in the Zuomer Plain and the surrounding area. He added that the scarcity of rainy seasons and thus the futility of traditional rainfed agriculture forced farmers to abandon their lands. This affected the economic and hence the living conditions of the farmers and compelled the competent authorities to import some types of grains, especially fodder crops for livestock.
Moreover Eng. Yaish confirmed that the improved alfalfa crop, which is characterized by high growth rates and yields compared to other types of crops, will have positive direct and tangible impacts on the livestock sector, especially on dairy farms. He said that the olive fields that will be irrigated with treated water will increase their productivity and thus the financial returns to the farmers. Other varieties of crops such as walnuts and almonds will also be introduced.
The project will include the construction of a treated water conveyor line, the construction of a huge reservoir of 10.000 cubic meters capacity, the installation of water distribution systems from the reservoir to the agricultural land, the installation of a modern sewage treatment plant and the rehabilitation of the targeted agricultural land.
Furthermore Eng. Yaish added that the Nablus Municipality had requested the necessary permits for the project from the Israeli side in the Palestinian liaison, as some areas are located in area "C".
Source: Nablus Municipality