Over 95% of Gaza's Agricultural Land Now Unusable: FAO Warns of Looming Famine

Key Highlights:

• 95% of Gaza’s farmland is now unusable.

• Only 4.6% of cropland remains cultivable.

• 71.2% of greenhouses were damaged, 100% in the Gaza governorate.

• 82.8% of agricultural wells destroyed.

• The entire population faces extreme famine risk.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has raised a serious alarm over the state of agriculture in Gaza, warning that over 95% of the region’s cropland is now unusable. This massive destruction has pushed Gaza’s food production system to the edge of collapse, putting all 2.1 million residents at risk of famine.

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Gaza’s Agricultural Land Almost Destroyed

According to the FAO and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), only 4.6% of Gaza’s total farmland remains cultivable. Out of 15,053 hectares of agricultural land, 12,537 hectares have been severely damaged. Even more troubling, 77.8% of this land is completely inaccessible to farmers, especially in the heavily affected areas of Rafah and northern Gaza.

Greenhouses and Wells Also Devastated

The destruction goes beyond cropland. Satellite imagery reveals that 71.2% of greenhouses across Gaza have been damaged. In Rafah alone, 86.5% of greenhouses were destroyed by April 2025—a sharp rise from 57.5% in December 2024. In the Gaza governorate, all greenhouses have been completely wiped out.

Wells, which are critical for irrigation and water supply, have also been hit hard. Over 82.8% of agricultural wells are now damaged, compared to 67.7% a few months ago. This growing destruction is making farming nearly impossible and worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Agriculture Was Once a Lifeline

Before the conflict escalated in 2023, agriculture played a key role in Gaza’s economy. It supported around 10% of the region’s GDP and was a primary source of food and income for more than half a million people. Now, with farmlands, water resources, and greenhouses in ruins, that lifeline has been cut off.

FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stated that this is more than just the destruction of land and infrastructure. It represents the collapse of the entire food system and the livelihoods of thousands of families who depended on farming and fishing.

Financial Losses in Billions

The FAO estimates that Gaza’s agricultural sector has suffered over $2 billion in damages and losses since the conflict began. To rebuild and restore the food production system, the recovery cost is projected at $4.2 billion. With the breakdown of a recent ceasefire, these figures are expected to rise even further.

Famine Risk for the Entire Population

A recent food security analysis paints a grim picture: 100% of Gaza’s population is now at extreme risk of famine. From April to May 2025, 93% of people in Gaza were already in a food crisis or worse. About 12% were in catastrophic conditions.

Projections suggest that by September 2025, nearly 500,000 people in Gaza could face starvation unless urgent humanitarian aid and agricultural recovery efforts are implemented.

Urgent Global Response Needed

The FAO and other humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate global action to prevent a large-scale famine. The collapse of Gaza’s food system is not just a local crisis, it’s a humanitarian emergency that requires urgent attention and support from the international community.

Also Read: Preparations Begin for a Farming Revolution: 'Developed Agriculture Resolution Campaign' Starts 29 May 2025

CMV360 Says

Gaza’s agricultural collapse has pushed the entire population to the brink of famine. With over 95% of farmland unusable and infrastructure destroyed, urgent international aid is essential. Without swift recovery efforts, nearly half a million people may face starvation, making this one of the world’s most critical humanitarian crises.