Rabat- The Palestinian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Rezk Salimiya, visited the headquarters of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ) in Rabat on Wednesday to learn more about the Agency’s initiatives in supporting farmers in Jerusalem. The visit also served as an opportunity to discuss potential areas of cooperation to further strengthen this vital sector in Jerusalem and its surrounding regions.
On this occasion, the Palestinian Minister praised the continued support extended by BMAQ under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for farmers in Jerusalem. In a statement to the press following his meeting with Mr. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, the Director managing the Agency, Mr. Salimiya highlighted that this support is particularly evident in the care provided for olive trees—through the supply of harvesting equipment and efforts to promote olive-based products in the Holy City.
He further noted that his discussions with Mr. Echarkaoui focused on enhancing BMAQ’s support for Jerusalemite farmers by providing key production inputs, such as constructing irrigation water tanks and supplying olive seedlings. The meeting also addressed future agricultural projects the Agency plans to launch in Jerusalem.
Expressing his gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI for his unwavering support of the Palestinian cause, the Minister lauded Morocco’s generous and consistent assistance to the Palestinian people across various sectors, particularly health, education, and agriculture—whether in Gaza, the northern West Bank, or the Holy City of Jerusalem.
For his part, Mr. Echarkaoui noted that the visit of the Palestinian Minister to the Agency’s headquarters provided an opportunity to discuss concrete strategies to develop agriculture in Jerusalem, protect Palestinian land, and support farmers by providing the necessary resources to strengthen their agricultural activities in the Holy City.
He emphasized that these discussions are in line with the Agency’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector in Jerusalem. This commitment is most clearly reflected in the provision of olive harvesting tools, the care and preservation of olive trees, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the value of olive-based products in the region.
Mr. Echarkaoui also pointed out that the Agency continues to offer logistical support to Palestinian farmers in Jerusalem, while also supporting youth project incubators in areas such as equipment, innovation, and the introduction of modern irrigation and farming technologies, along with general plant care.
It is worth noting that Mr. Salimiya is visiting Morocco as the head of a Palestinian delegation made up of 10 companies—most of which specialize in date production—participating for the first time in the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco.
