Gaza's Olive Trees Devastated, Halving Harvest and Raising Prices
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Gaza's olive tree population has been reduced from two million to an estimated 150,000 due to widespread destruction, significantly impacting the local harvest and economy. Olive groves, once a source of food and income, have been bulldozed or are inaccessible, leading to a drastic drop in olive and oil production. Prices for the scarce commodity have tripled, making it unaffordable for many families, while the number of functioning olive presses has fallen from 40 to seven. The devastation has also severely limited seasonal employment opportunities for workers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gaza's olive tree count has fallen from 2 million to 150,000, devastating the agricultural sector.
- Olive harvests have plummeted, producing 700 tons of oil compared to a previous 5,000 tons.
- Olive prices have tripled, reaching nearly $500 per barrel, making them unaffordable for most families.
- The number of operating olive presses has decreased from 40 to just seven.
- Seasonal work during olive harvests has become scarce, offering only a day's pay instead of months.
- Nearly half of some olive groves are now behind Israeli lines or have been bulldozed.
Olive groves that once flourished in central Gaza have been decimated, with the number of olive trees plummeting from two million to an estimated 150,000, according to Gaza's agricultural authorities. Haider Abu Madin, 60, described how his family's 220-acre olive grove, which used to yield between 1,100 and 1,500 tons of olives, has been largely destroyed. He noted that nearly half of his grove is now behind the Israeli "yellow line" where Israeli forces operate, and the other half has been bulldozed, leaving only about 20 to 30 trees.
Before the conflict, olive oil was a staple in Gaza, with a surplus available for export. The groves also served as vital recreational spaces for families in the densely populated strip. However, current estimates suggest a harvest of only about 5,000 tons of olives, producing just 700 tons of oil, a stark contrast to the previous 40,000-ton olive harvest and 5,000-ton oil yield.
The scarcity has driven prices up significantly. Imad Al-Ajrami, 33, a shopper in Deir al-Balah market, noted that available olives are selling for triple their pre-war price, reaching nearly $500 per barrel, a cost beyond the reach of most Gazan families. The number of functioning olive presses has also drastically reduced from around 40 to just seven, with many struggling to operate due to the lack of olives, as Fawaz Zeidan, an olive press owner, lamented.
Even in areas declared safe zones by Israeli forces, like Deir al-Balah, the impact is severe. Seasonal workers like Ahmed Khader, 38, who once found two to three months of employment during harvest season, now struggle to find even a single day's work. Despite the risks of ongoing gunfire and shelling, these workers attempt to secure a meager livelihood for their families.
The destruction of the olive groves represents a significant loss to Gaza's economy and food security, impacting not only the availability of a key food item but also the livelihoods of farmers and agricultural workers.
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