In the Gaza Strip, farmers are demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of years of conflict, destruction, and forced displacement. Despite limited resources and restricted space, residents are attempting to cultivate their land again to meet their needs.
Ahmed al-Astal, a farmer, testifies bitterly: “All the land was cultivated. It was paradise on earth, as they say. Today, that paradise has become hell. Why? Because when you plant, the Israelis advance a little further, and you have to leave your land. You leave it for two or three months, then you come back to find your crops destroyed. The arable land is shrinking every day, and now everything is concentrated in the Muwasi area, which is already saturated with displaced people. Should I cultivate the land or set up tents for the residents?”
Most agricultural land is either under Israeli control or occupied by refugees, which severely limits farming. Crops are now confined to a few areas like Muwasi, Khan Younis, and parts of Deir al-Balah, insufficient to feed Gaza's two million inhabitants. "We've gone from abundant, high-quality agricultural production to a situation where only 10% of the land is still cultivated," explains al-Astal.
The shortage of seeds and fertilizers is further complicating the work of farmers. According to the FAO, nearly 86% of Gaza's agricultural land has been severely damaged. Already suffering from displacement, residents now have to pay much higher prices for food.
Mohamed al-Naggar, displaced from Rafah, testifies: “Prices are exorbitant for any citizen, due to the border closures, the scarcity of goods, and the control exerted over Rafah and the eastern part of Gaza, exacerbated by the Israeli siege.” Asrar Qadih, a woman displaced east of Khan Younis, illustrates this daily reality: “Before, we would buy two or three kilos of vegetables. Now, we can only afford one or two individual vegetables.”
As the Gaza Strip attempts to restore its food production amid an extreme humanitarian crisis, the quest for agricultural self-sufficiency remains a huge challenge, almost impossible without international support and the lifting of the blockade.
