Status of Farmers in Border Areas in the Gaza Strip from a Food Sovereignty Perspective

The study aimed to assess all agricultural practices, economically and environmentally, in the border areas of the Gaza Strip and to study the impact of the occupation on agricultural development and on the economic and social reality of farmers.

The agricultural sector in Palestine in general and in Gaza Strip in particular suffers from numerous impediments, mainly from the Israeli occupation, the blockade, the scarcity of resources and the poor use of available resources. This is not to mention the lack of policies supporting farmers and the high cost of production inputs, such as imported seeds and chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides herbicides), which have increased the suffering of farmers.

On another hand, the excessive use of chemicals by farmers to combat diseases and as

fertilizers has exacerbated their suffering. The severity and impact of these impediments are greater in Gaza’s border areas due to their proximity to the barrier and the constant attacks and restrictions by the occupation. Additionally, these lands suffered severe damages during the past years as a result of the clashes during the Great March of Return. As such, the study targets all villages located east and north of the Gaza Strip, where the majority of lands are located in the border areas.