Gaza Government: Heavy Losses Threaten Future of Grape Crop in Strip

Sana'a: The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip confirmed that the grape sector in Gaza is losing thousands of tons of production and hundreds of thousands of trees and vines that were bulldozed and destroyed during the war. Farmers are facing significant challenges in reviving one of the most important horticultural crops in the Strip. According to Yemen News Agency, the office stated that the grape crop was a vital agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip, serving as a source of income and employment for thousands of families, farmers, and seasonal workers. This sector is also connected to other agricultural and food products, notably grape leaves. Approximately 1,500 farmers are engaged in grape farming in Gaza, supported by nearly 500 women and thousands of seasonal workers who rely on this sector for their income during the agricultural season. Prior to the war, grape production was sufficient to meet the needs of the Strip's markets, with 6,500 dunams of land cultivated in 2023, yielding around 8,0 00 tons of grapes and about 2,000 tons of grape leaves. The statement highlighted that since the start of the genocidal campaign on October 7, 2023, extensive areas of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip have been bulldozed and destroyed. The grape sector experienced significant losses, with only about 676 dunams remaining under cultivation out of the original 6,500. Approximately 250,000 grapevines were destroyed, leading to a drastic reduction in expected production volume to about 500 tons of grapes, compared to the pre-war level of about 8,000 tons. The local consumption deficit for grapes has reached approximately 93%, illustrating the severe crisis impacting this sector. Economically, the financial losses for producers are estimated to be around $6.27 million.