Gaza farmers are cultivating every remaining scrap of unspoiled land to survive amid severe shortages and constant danger, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Gaza's population of 2.1 million has been hemmed into an ever smaller slice of territory.
- More than 80% of greenhouses have been ruined.
- Farmers face severe shortages of water, fertiliser and pesticide.
- Tending crops in the open can be deadly.
Gaza’s farmers are fighting to survive by using every last remaining patch of unspoiled earth, no matter how small, according to the Guardian. As the territory’s population of 2.1 million has been hemmed into an ever smaller slice of land, cultivation has become both a lifeline and a struggle.
The obstacles are severe. Farmers are contending with shortages of water, fertiliser and pesticide, while more than 80% of greenhouses have been ruined, the Guardian reports. Rebuilding domestic food production under these conditions has proven extremely difficult.
Clearing land of debris and coaxing new seedlings into life has required inventiveness and determination, according to the report. With key agricultural infrastructure destroyed, farmers have had to improvise to keep any production going at all.
The risks extend beyond scarcity. The Guardian reports that venturing out into the open to tend to plants can be deadly, meaning even the basic work of farming carries a life-threatening cost.
Efforts to rebuild domestic food production, the outlet says, face severe challenges and have already come at a deadly price for those trying to feed the territory’s population.
Why it matters
Food production is a matter of survival for Gaza's 2.1 million residents amid widespread shortages. The destruction of greenhouses and the danger of simply tending crops show how deeply the conflict has disrupted the basics of daily life.
Frequently asked questions
How much of Gaza's greenhouse capacity has been destroyed?
According to the Guardian, more than 80% of greenhouses in Gaza have been ruined.
What shortages are Gaza farmers facing?
The Guardian reports severe shortages of water, fertiliser and pesticide affecting farmers' ability to grow food.
Why is farming dangerous in Gaza?
The Guardian reports that venturing out into the open to tend to plants can be deadly.