Gaza's Grape Harvest Shrinks as War Damage and Costs Bite

Gaza's grape farmers are facing a devastating harvest season. The conflict has left fields scarred and production costs prohibitive, transforming a once-thriving agricultural sector into a struggle for survival.

Nasser Abu Hizaiya, a farmer in the area, described the scale of the destruction. He stated that before the war, his vineyard was lush and fully covered with vines. Now, he says, only about ten percent of the original plants remain. He attributes the loss to military vehicles, which he says bulldozed a large portion of the crop, leaving the rest dry and withered.

The financial burden of maintaining the surviving vines has also become immense. Abu Hizaiya noted that the price of essential agricultural inputs, such as plant medicine, has increased dramatically. A bottle that once cost 50 shekels now sells for 700 or 800 shekels. This means the cost of caring for the remaining grapevines has multiplied by a factor of twenty to thirty, placing an impossible strain on growers.

The impact extends beyond the fields to the market. Shaher Ayyad, a merchant who transports produce to Gaza City's Shujaiyya market, has seen his trade collapse. He recalled a time when he would load his truck with forty or fifty boxes of grapes daily. Now, he is fortunate to secure just three boxes for the same price, which he struggles to sell throughout the day.

The broader agricultural picture is equally grim. A June assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization indicated that a vast majority of Gaza's cropland and greenhouse areas have been damaged. An April UN assessment estimated the total damage and losses to the agricultural system at nearly $3 billion. Before the war, agriculture was a cornerstone of Gaza's economy, supporting over half a million people who relied on farming, herding, or fishing for their livelihoods.