Rabat – The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) has highlighted the severe impact of Israeli aggression on the agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip.
The cessation of agricultural production in the besieged strip has led to approximately $2 million in direct daily losses, with $1.6 million attributed to stalled production alone, according to the report.
The situation is exacerbated when factoring in the destruction of agricultural property and assets, as well as the bulldozing of land. According to the PCBS, these additional factors could double the total losses, pushing the estimated total agricultural losses to over $180 million.
With approximately 34,000 dunums (34 million square meters) of cultivated areas, Northern Gaza has suffered extensive damage. Israeli aggression has rendered most of it unsuitable for agriculture due to the presence of dropped explosives.
The report underlined the severity of the impact on horticultural trees, particularly olive trees, which constitute 63% of the total area cultivated with horticultural trees in the Gaza Strip.
Khan Yunis bore the brunt with 34% of affected olive trees, followed by Dier Al-Balah with 24%, North Gaza with 17%, and Rafah with 13%.The PCBS report emphasized the agricultural sector’s importance in Gaza’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In 2022, the sector contributed approximately 11% to the overall economy.In addition, the report revealed that 44% of Palestinian households in the Gaza Strip have lost access to local agricultural production, which was crucial for household consumption.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza, which began on October 7, has not only displaced farmers but also hindered their ability to access and cultivate their lands.
Locals told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces have been deliberately targeting farmland and using pesticides, rendering the soil unsuitable for farming.
Source : Morocco World News
