Gaza agricultural sector has continued to struggle and develop amid Israel’s repeated attacks and ongoing blockade.
The agricultural sector in Gaza contributes up to 6% of the Gross National Product (GNP) with a value of $430 million.
The Gaza agricultural sector consumes about 300000 cups of water per day with a total of 100 million cubic meters annually which constitutes nearly 50% of the annual consumption.
In an interview with the PIC reporter Director General of Policies and Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture Wael Thabet said that there are approximately 180000 dunums of actual agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip.
The agricultural crop area is about 220000 dunums with vegetable production constituting 54% of the agricultural production he added.
About 55000 Palestinians work in agricultural and other connected professions Thabet continued.
Thabet also pointed out that the Gaza Strip produces about 4700 tons of fish annually.
Gaza agricultural sector priorities
The Director General of Policies and Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture affirmed that his ministry is keen to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural produce by protecting the Palestinian farmer and preventing the importation of any competitive products.
“We are working to improve the local agricultural production in local and foreign markets” he continued.
Damage to Gaza’s agricultural sector
Gaza’s agricultural sector sustained over US1.3 billion in damage during the Israeli attacks on the besieged Strip since 2006 Thabet said.
He elaborated on the challenges facing the agricultural sector in Gaza Strip topped by the repeated Israeli aggressions and siege followed by the limited area for cultivation soaring production costs and high water salinity in addition to its scarcity.
