FAO says 97% of Gaza farmland now unusable amid ongoing damage

ROME — The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said only about 3 percent of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip remains accessible and undamaged, warning that restrictions on access to farmland and agricultural imports are slowing recovery in the territory. In a statement, the FAO said the area of usable farmland had fallen from 601 hectares in October 2025 to 448 hectares, a drop of 25.5 percent. Of Gaza's total 3,643 hectares of agricultural land, the agency reported, the vast majority has sustained severe damage and needs rehabilitation before it can be brought back into production. The FAO also said the area of usable and undamaged greenhouses had declined by 17.3 percent, to 224 hectares. The agency stressed that local food production cannot be restored without guaranteed safe access for farmers and urgent support to the agricultural sector. The organization did not provide a timeline for rehabilitation or specify which actors would carry out the work, and said further details on the assessment were not immediately available.