Wasting away: Gaza's agricultural sector under threat

One of the areas that produces strawberries is the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Before the Israeli blockade began, some 2,500 dunums (625 acres) were planted with the fruit. Last year some 1,500 dunums remained unplanted, leaving at least 300 families without an important source of income.

Located near the extremely insecure border region known as the 'buffer zone', farmers in Beit Lahiya live and work under especially difficult conditions. Several farmers have been reported killed and injured by Israeli firepower while trying to access their land.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Strawberry cultivation is costly and arduous. Farmers work nearly seven months a year to make sure their fruit meets rigorous international standards. But their success depends entirely on whether the Israeli government allows them to export their produce.

50 per cent of all strawberry farmers have now given up cultivation due to the blockade.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Zuhair Tantash, 40, is one of the best-known strawberry farmers in Beit Lahiya. He and his four brothers have seven dunums (roughly 1.5 acres) planted with strawberries.

"I don't think Israel will open the crossings in order to export our product to the outside world," Zuhair explained during last year's harvest. "We planted with the hope that things would improve, but it seems that I was mistaken."

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

"My brothers and I, along with our 30 family members, are counting on the crossings opening. If they don't we expect to be deep in debt," Zuhair told Oxfam last year.

In the end, Zuhair was right to be pessimistic. The crossing remained shut and farmers suffered enormous losses - an estimated US$ 6.5 million last year. It looks likely that farmers will suffer similar losses for a third year in a row in the upcoming harvest season.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Gazan carnations have also failed to reach their usual European markets.

The media reported in February that some 25,000 carnations were allowed to be exported in a rare break in the blockade for Valentine's Day. In the months that followed another 575,000 or so were cleared for export. However, this represents a mere drop in the ocean. Normally, 50-60 million carnations from Gaza are exported to Holland alone in any given year.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Oxfam partner the Palestinian Agriculture Relief Committee (PARC) is running a project providing 181 flower and strawberry farmers with seeds and other necessary materials. However, the project, which is funded by the Netherlands Repetitive Office, is struggling because of the blockade.

"We are facing the same problem [this year] with the Israeli authorities allowing the raw materials we need into Gaza. For over one month now, we have been waiting for seeds and other items [needed for cultivation], and we have received no response from the Israeli authorities when we inquire about their entry," said Ahmed Sourani, the project co-ordinator.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Ayman Aukal, from Rafah is one of the biggest flower farmers in the whole of the Gaza Strip. Flowers are the main source of income for Ayman and his extended family of more than 40.

"I spend more time with flowers in the farm than I spend time with my children at home," Ayman joked. "Flowers mean everything to me as I work with my family and my brothers' families day in and day out, growing them for sale in the European markets."

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Last year carnation farmers lost some US$6.5 million because of the blockade. The three-week conflict in December and January compounded their problems. Ayman lost 50 per cent of his carnations during this time because he could not tend them.

"Flowers need special care. We deal with the flowers as we deal with our children...We keep working for months in order to have them in the best shape we can. But still we are so concerned that Israel will keep the crossings closed, and if they do we can lose everything," he said last year.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

"This is our warehouse where we prepare the flowers and pack them for export. Honestly I have not started to pack the flowers as I still have my fears that they won't be able to get out of the country," he told Oxfam as the harvest season began late last year. Once cut, the flowers can be stored for 72 hours inside the coolers. After that they will expire.

"My family will be in more debt and misery if the crossings don't open soon, so I appeal all sides of this conflict, and to the Europeans, to act and help us farmers so we can provide them with this beautiful flower and we can make good business in return."

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela

Last year, frustrated by the blocks placed on their exports, farmers were forced to use their flowers as animal feed.

"We used the first round of the flower harvest as animal feed because we didn't know what to do with it. Ironically the animal feed now-a-days is very expensive [because it is hard to come by due to the blockade] so we use the flowers as animal food instead," Ayman explained.

It is unlikely that Ayman's situation will improve this year. He is still waiting for seeds to enter Gaza even though the planting season officially began in June. Even so, if and when they do arrive, he does not know whether or not he will have a chance to export the carnations.

Photo: Mohammed Ali Abu Najela