A United Nations report has revealed a stark reality for Gaza’s agriculture: less than five percent of the region’s farmland is currently usable for cultivation. The assessment, released on Monday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Center, highlights the severe impact of ongoing conflict on Gaza’s vital agrifood system.
According to the latest geospatial analysis, only 4.6 percent of the total cropland area in the Gaza Strip—approximately 688 hectares—remains available for farming. A staggering 80.8 percent of the cropland has been damaged, and 77.8 percent is inaccessible to farmers. The report notes that cropland in Rafah and nearly all areas in the northern parts of Gaza are particularly affected.
Gaza’s agricultural infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with 71.2 percent of greenhouses and 82.8 percent of agricultural wells reported as damaged. Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the FAO, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure—it is a collapse of Gaza’s agrifood system and of lifelines."
Before the conflict intensified in October 2023, agriculture accounted for around 10 percent of Gaza’s economy. It supported the livelihoods of over 560,000 people through crop cultivation, livestock, or fishing. The latest developments threaten to exacerbate food insecurity and the risk of famine in the region.
An earlier FAO estimate indicated that the conflict has resulted in over $2 billion in agricultural losses in Gaza. Recovery and reconstruction efforts are projected to cost approximately $4.2 billion. The FAO and other international organizations are calling for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis and support the rehabilitation of Gaza’s agricultural sector.
