São Paulo – A mission of the Brazilian government, headed by the minister of Fishery and Aquaculture, Altemir Gregolin, should arrive this Sunday (19th) in Ramallah, Palestine, to proceed with the humanitarian aid program offered by Brazil. In early March, during a meeting of donator countries held in Egypt, foreign minister Celso Amorim announced US$ 10 million in aid for the to rebuild the Gaza Strip.
“There is an agreement between the two governments [Brazil and National Palestinian Authority (ANP)] concerning the funds that contemplates three fields: food security, health and education,” Gregolin told ANBA. He travels along with representatives of the ministries of Agriculture, Education and Health.
In the field of fishery and aquaculture, the project involves investment in infrastructure for fish farming, as part of the food security field. According to the minister, three stations should be built for production of fries (young fish) “to secure genetic material” for fish farming, construction of tanks for animal feeding, technology transfer and professional training.
Besides civil construction work, the project entails the coming of people to Brazil to undergo training, knowledge exchange for the improvement of the tilapia, the species chosen by the Palestinians, and assistance for the formation of farmer cooperatives. “The local output is small, after fishing in the Mediterranean was reduced, therefore they need to import. [Aquaculture] is an alternative for obtaining food supplies,” said Gregolin.
In addition to fish farming, the Palestinians are also interested in know-how turned to reusing the water in agricultural areas. According to the minister, with regard to agriculture, Brazil is going to collaborate with labour force training, formulation of sector policies and technical assistance, including the supply end, with for to the introduction of initiatives such a the Food Purchase Program (PAA), which is developed in Brazil by the National Food Supply Company (Conab).
The PAA involves the purchase by Conab of the produce of family farmers, at fair prices, for the formation of regulatory inventories and donation to impoverished families. The action is part of the Zero Hunger program of the Brazilian federal government.
In the health field, according to Gregolin, the representatives are going to look into the possibility of implementing in Palestine a Unified Healthcare System (SUS) similar to the one in effect in Brazil, which grants the population universal, free-of-charge access to different medical services.
Gregolin added that in the two days visiting Palestine, the delegation is going to attend meetings at the local ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Education. The funds, according to him, are already available to the ANP and the programs are “to be implemented right away.” “Our trip is meant for us to discuss implementation, we are already in the stage of carrying out the program,” he said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum