An Update on Zahriya & Intisar: Microgrant Project
Farmer, Zahriya in Palestine
Thanks to generous gifts to LOCF, the micro project development program has created a sustainable source of income for women beneficiaries by supporting them to start and develop their own businesses and transfer their entrepreneurship ideas into reality. Grants are more culturally appropriate than loans and allow the PFTA and CORE to focus on mentoring the recipients.
ORGANIC FARM PROJECT
Awarded in spring 2018, this project was proposed by two single older sisters from a farming community. They presented an opportunity for the women to be economically independent, be decision makers, and have a role in their family and community development. Zahriya is 65 and Intisar is 60 years old. The two sisters live together and their land is their only source of income. Their situation, commitment, experience and practices, and relationship with their land met all the criteria and qualified them to receive a micro project grant.
THE GRANT
Zahriya and Intisar’s grant to transform their land into a full regenerative agriculture farm included installation of an irrigation network connected to cisterns, building an animal shed and providing the sheep, and landrace (ancient native) seeds for vegetables and other cover crops among their olive trees.
THE PROGRESS REPORT
“This is the only thing I know to do in my life. I’ve been working in farming since I was little”, Zahriya said. “My father used to take me with him to work in the land, he always told me that I have a green hand; a traditional saying to describe those who are good at farming. After my father passed away, farming was the only thing that kept me and my family living with dignity”.
Zahriya’s family owns land planted with olive trees, wild plants such as medicinal herbals and Summaq, figs and grapes. They have two rainwater harvesting cisterns. Although the land is a thirty minute walk from their house, Zahriya and Intisar go there early every morning to take care of the weeding, simple pruning and harvesting.
Zahriya says:”We have to work hard in the land, care for the olive trees (their main source of income but seasonal). The money we get from the land is hardly enough to provide basic needs for my family and to care for the land (plowing, professional pruning, harvesting tools, and labor during olive harvest season). Since olives are seasonal, we needed another source of income for the rest of the year to be able to provide needs. I always had a dream to utilize the land for other crops such as vegetables and legumes, and to raise animals to graze in the land, but our economic situation prevented us from doing so.”
RESULTS
The farm provided income all year as each crop (potatoes, peas, Summaq, legumes) was harvested in different seasons and marketed locally.
Zahriya with crop of organic potatoes in Palestine
Zahriya with landrace seeds to plant in Palestine