Gaza’s Fields in Ruins: New Report Calls for Urgent Recovery Support
The assessment identifies priority interventions needed to restore agricultural resilience across Gaza
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2026) — Anera today released a new report that describes the near-total destruction of the Gaza Strip’s agricultural sector since October 2023, and outlines short and medium-term interventions necessary for agriculture in Gaza – and those who rely on it – to recover.
The report, “Needs Assessment of the Agricultural Sector in Gaza,” is the result of empirical, ground-level research conducted in February 2026 by a development agricultural specialist with years of experience working in Gaza. The assessment found that the system has largely unraveled with agriculture production down 95% to 98% and fisheries down 99%.
Prior to October 2023, agriculture was a cornerstone of Gaza’s economy, accounting for 11% of gross domestic product, with $638 million in annual production and supporting more than 50,000 livelihoods. More than 55% of exports were tied to agriculture, predominantly strawberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
“The agricultural sector in Gaza was once a critical source of food, jobs, dignity and stability for families across the region,” said Anera President and CEO Sean Carroll. “Its near-total collapse is an economic and humanitarian catastrophe. When farmland is destroyed and food systems disappear, you further exacerbate the loss of access to livelihoods, basic nutrition and the ability to rebuild lives.”
“After more than two years of ongoing crisis, widespread destruction has crippled Gaza’s infrastructure and has had devastating impacts on families across the region,” said Anera Palestine Country Director Khaled Rajab. “Gaza’s agricultural sector cannot recover under current restrictions, but with thoughtful, targeted and practical interventions, there is the opportunity to lay the groundwork for future restoration.”
Some of the biggest constraints right now are that all agricultural inputs require approvals to enter Gaza and border crossings and fishing zones remain closed. The livestock and fishing sectors are effectively non-operational and soil contamination cannot be addressed because the testing and treatment capacity no longer exists in Gaza.
As part of the assessment, the Anera team consulted with farmers, suppliers and sector leaders to identify the most urgent needs to address these issues. These include access to water, inputs and energy, rehabilitation of wells and irrigation systems, land reclamation and greenhouse repair, support for nurseries and seedling production, job creation to restart agricultural activity, and practical training in low-input and sustainable farming methods.
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For more information or to arrange an interview:
Ellen Fleming
[email protected]
617-640-2101 (UTC-04)
Notes to editors:
- The assessment identifies some key areas of concern across land and access, rising costs, and infrastructure. Some key findings include:
- Land and Access
- Of the total cropland in Gaza before the war, only 4% (1,486 acres) remains undamaged and accessible.
- Of this, only 535 acres are currently under cultivation, while 951 acres remain idle due to high input costs and limited irrigation water.
- 63% of farmland is completely inaccessible, behind the “yellow line.”
- Fisheries
- Before the war, Gaza’s fishing sector produced 4,600 tons of fish annually and employed more than 6,000 individuals.
- Today, only about 500 fishermen remain active, producing only around 10 to 15 tons per month.
- 95% of fishing infrastructure was destroyed in the war, including 1,800 boats, the Gaza port, and four boat landing sites.
- Greenhouses
- Only 17% remain intact and accessible and more than half are inaccessible
- Rising Costs and Falling Yields
- Compared to costs before the war, production costs are up 170% for greenhouses and 137% for open fields.
- Productivity has sharply declined as a result of the war, with yields dropping by 50% for open-field crops and 40% for greenhouse crops.
- Inputs and Infrastructure
- Only nine of 35 pre-war nurseries are still operating.
- There is a severe shortage of seeds, fertilizers and equipment with inflation causing these to be prohibitively expensive
- Water access and electricity remain critically limited with only eight percent of irrigation wells fully functional
- Land and Access
- Immediate short-term priorities identified in the assessment include:
- Repairing irrigation systems and greenhouses
- Delivering seeds, fertilizers, and essential inputs
- Creating jobs to restart farming activity
- Training farmers in pest management and safe practices
- Other priorities should include:
- Rehabilitating communal wells with solar power
- Installing water distribution networks
- Reclaiming and leveling farmland
- Restoring and expanding vegetable nurseries
- Anera’s agricultural work in Gaza dates back many decades and focuses on restoring food production, strengthening resilience and helping families sustain their livelihoods in one of the most constrained farming environments in the world. In the aftermath of repeated conflicts, Anera has supported the rehabilitation of damaged farmland by leveling and plowing fields, rebuilding irrigation networks and providing farmers with essential inputs such as seeds and seedlings.
About Anera
Since 1968, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in the Middle East live with dignity and purpose. Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate humanitarian relief and for sustainable health, education, and economic development efforts. Our staff are from the communities they serve, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most. We will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.