West Bank Farmers Reeling Under Closures
The ongoing military lockdowns on Palestinian cities and crossings have disrupted the agricultural season, compounding the damage caused by Israel's policies of forced displacement and annexation in the region.
These compounded pressures have severely undermined one of the most vital economic sectors in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The northern West Bank and Jordan Valley—critical areas for fresh produce supply across Palestine—have seen widespread agricultural damage.
Farmers report that skyrocketing production costs, combined with a sharp decline in local market prices, have made it almost impossible to break even.
Maen Daraghmeh, a farmer from the region, said he cultivated 20 dunams of cucumbers and courgettes this season but suffered heavy financial losses due to oversupply in the markets.
Speaking to Quds Press, Daraghmeh noted the paradox that while Palestinian cities are under blockade and movement is heavily restricted, the markets remain flooded with agricultural goods from Israeli settlements. These products, he said, are outcompeting Palestinian-grown produce.
'There should first be guidance for farmers on market demand, followed by a ban on importing goods and crops from settlements or abroad,' Daraghmeh said. 'Finally, we need proper regulation of how vegetables are marketed and distributed to help maintain the farmers' morale, livelihoods, and presence in the market.'
Daraghmeh's comments echo broader calls from Palestinian farmers and agricultural organizations for national policy reforms that support local agriculture and resist economic domination by settlement industries. Without such protections, many fear that Palestinian farmers will be pushed out of the market entirely.
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