‘Ray of hope’: Gaza seed bank rebuilds stocks destroyed by war in bid to revive farming

Deir el-Balah, a central Gaza Strip town, is home to the Al Qarara Seed Bank, a humble operation dedicated to preserving and rebuilding the region’s invaluable seed stocks ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. The bank holds seeds for staple crops like wheat, barley, leafy greens, and vegetables such as courgette and okra, with a focus on heirloom varieties that can be saved and replanted year after year, providing agricultural continuity and resilience.

Salem Muhanna, the bank’s manager since its 2017 founding with ICRC support, emphasizes the seeds' importance in sustaining Gaza’s agricultural heritage and food security in the face of conflict. The war left devastating consequences: the bank’s physical structure was completely destroyed, and many seed varieties were lost. Displacements further complicated recovery efforts.

Nonetheless, the bank persevered, establishing operations in Deir el-Balah using basic materials like hessian sacks and plastic containers to house and protect the remaining seed stock.

According to Hanadi Muhanna, Salem’s daughter and project co-manager, the seed bank serves as a critical lifeline for Gaza’s beleaguered farmers, offering a “safety valve” amidst the ongoing Israeli blockade and limited access to water, fertilizer, and agricultural chemicals. The bank operates on a lending system, allowing trusted farmers to receive seed and return it after the growing season, ensuring its sustainability.

Suleiman Abu Shamas, a Deir el-Balah farmer, underscores the seed bank’s pivotal role in maintaining food production and safeguarding the region’s agricultural legacy, describing it as “a ray of hope” amid the grim landscape of Gaza’s shattered agricultural sector.