The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reported that 75% of agricultural fields, including crops and olive groves, have been destroyed, while critical infrastructure like irrigation wells has been severely damaged. The Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented agricultural crisis, with significant destruction of farmland, livestock, and fisheries.
FAO's assessment reveals that more than two-thirds of these wells are now non-functional, leading to a drastic reduction in water availability for farming. The livestock sector has been nearly wiped out, with 96% of animals lost and milk production coming to a standstill. Poultry farms have been decimated, leaving only 1% of chickens alive.
Additionally, the fishing industry, which once played a vital role in the local economy, is on the brink of collapse. The consequences of this destruction are dire, pushing more than two million people into extreme food insecurity.
A ceasefire is crucial to delivering emergency aid and beginning the long process of rebuilding Gaza’s agriculture. FAO stresses the need to restore essential agrifood infrastructure, including greenhouses, wells, and solar energy systems, to revive local food production.
Immediate efforts will focus on providing farmers, herders, and fishers with agricultural inputs and technical support to help them restart their livelihoods.
Before the conflict, agriculture contributed to around 10% of Gaza’s economy, employing over half a million people. The sector also generated USD 67.3 million in exports in 2022, primarily through fresh crops like strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants, along with fresh fish. The destruction of this industry has left thousands without livelihoods and worsened the humanitarian crisis.
FAO estimates that rebuilding Gaza’s agricultural sector will take years, if not decades. In the short term, it seeks USD 74.5 million to support over 154,000 farmers and fishers. Additionally, easing restrictions on private imports is seen as key to restoring food production and ensuring a stable, diverse food supply.
