Gazans use any space to grow crops to survive

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Gazans grow crops in every available space to survive on the Strip. [Mohammed Asad/MEMO]

Israel’s tightened siege on the besieged Gaza Strip has led some to resort to growing crops in any space they can find.

Salah Muhaisen, who was displaced from Az-Zawayda neighbourhood of Gaza City, did just that because of the rising food prices.

Growing vegetables isn’t easy, Muhaisen explains, there is limited space between tents as almost all of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced, in addition to this, the quality of the soil is poor and the water in the area salty, thus making for a hostile environment for seedlings.

“We try to grow any crop to provide lunch, which is a burden on us in difficult circumstances,” he tells MEMO.

Hajj Kamel Skeik also used the small area of land between tents to grow vegetables such as Swiss chard, beans, parsley and watercress. The area he uses was once a play area for children in Gaza, however the genocide has left no such area untouched.

Israel’s siege on Gaza and the reduction in the number of food trucks allowed into the Strip has meant a kilogramme of tomatoes is now between 30 and 60 times higher than it was before October 2023, while onions are 20 times more expensive than they were 15 months ago.

The areas now being cultivated in displacement camps are so small they do little to provide for residents who are now enduring famine conditions, however for some families they provide a lifeline.

Until the siege is lifted, agriculture will remain insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents as there is little by way of clean water, fertilizers, saplings or sufficient space to grow the quality and quantity of fruit and vegetables required.

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