Gaza Farms Burst With Sweet Potatoes
by Anera
Sweet potatoes are a common treat in Gaza. Vendors on the beach sell them from boxes held above their heads, and they flourish in the local soil. Farmers can make big profits from these tasty crops. However, many Gaza farms aren’t prepared to grow sweet potatoes. Fields have been damaged by war or left barren due to lack of resources. Sweet potato seedlings are expensive, and bombed plots of land need extensive work to get back into shape for farming.
Prosperity Grows on Gaza Farms
Through a land restoration project, Anera has helped 399 farming families bring life to 214 acres of land that had been abandoned or laid fallow for years. Farmers were provided with agricultural tools, compost, training sessions and the installation of a drip irrigation system. Then, Anera agronomists and local farmers formed a plan to harvest the crops at a time of year when they typically run short in local markets, increasing profitability. “At harvest time, we reap the benefits of hard work,” said Atta Zoerob, one of the participating farmers. “It’s an amazing feeling.”