While the agriculture sector historically played a significant role in Palestine’s economy and culture, the occupation has put the sector at risk making it difficult and almost impossible to allow for agricultural growth.  As a result, food security is a constant concern across Palestine, and especially in Gaza where food insecurity levels reached a high of 57%.

The Israeli assault on Gaza in 2014 left severe damages in agricultural lands, and destroyed the livelihood of Palestinians who depended on agriculture. Farmers, fishermen, and livestock farmers all were affected.

In an effort to alleviate the suffering of these families and provide them with some hope and resillience, Welfare Association’s (Taawon) agricultural land rehabilitation project in Gaza is supporting affected farmers through land rehabilitation, replacing uprooted trees, and reviving agricultural wells.

“During the war in 2014, I was shocked after losing over 100 olive trees. I felt great disappointment as it takes years to grow an olive tree and my bulldozed farmland was a source of income for many families. This project is helping us preserve the land and plant it again.”, said Abu Mahmoud, a Gazan farmer.

Welfare Association (Taawon)’s project, which is funded by the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development and managed by Islamic Development Bank, targets 275 farmers enabling them to access basic resources to return back into their farming. The project is helping revive farmlands through reclamation of agricultural lands, restoration of 12 agricultural wells, and extension of 4,500 meters of irrigation lines.