The Arab Center for Agricultural Development is a non-governmental institution established to support Palestinian farmers in the West Bank and Gaza. ACAD seeks to improve agricultural performance and productivity, and to assist farmers in overcoming technical, financial and marketing problems.
Priority is given to small and intermediate farmers experiencing financial difficulties.
ACAD's main office is in Jerusalem, with branch offices in Nablus, Jericho and Gaza. Supervision of the Center's activities is provided by a board of 11 volunteers specialized in agriculture, social development, and agricultural economics. ACAD operates a revolving loan program to support Palestinian farmers who cultivate vegetables and irrigated fruits. This program started in 1988 in the Jericho area, and has gradually expanded to the Jordan Valley and northern areas of the West Bank. Some 2,530 farmers have benefitted from short-term credit facilities, seasonal loans, credit for capital investment, credit for marketing and export.