Gaza flower farmers shift to growing vegetables
According to the Palestinian Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) there used to be over 500 dunams (acres) of carnations planted in the Gaza Strip, but since the beginning of the siege in 2007, flower exports have plummeted year on year and there are only around 60 dunams left.
Between the early 1990s and 2000s, a floral industry, which was encouraged by European donor states, was booming in Gaza. This costly industry requires a significant amount of water and electricity, which is controlled by Israel.
Over 40 million flowers were sold every year to European markets, especially Holland, mainly to Christmas and Valentine's Day consumers. However, the adverse conditions facing this industry since 2008 are bringing it close to collapse.
The planted land used to produce over forty million stems for export, but now the few carnation farmers who are left are struggling to sell 5-10 million. The majority of flower farmers have begun farming vegetables instead of flowers.
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