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From Daily Star · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A seed bank in Gaza's Deir el-Balah is working to preserve and restore local heirloom seeds destroyed during the Israel-Hamas war.
  • The Al Qarara Seed Bank, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), aims to revive Gaza's farming sector and agricultural heritage.
  • The bank lost many seed varieties when its original facility was destroyed, but a dedicated team is rebuilding stocks in a makeshift tent using basic means.

Amidst the devastation of the Gaza Strip, a small team is diligently working to safeguard the region's agricultural future at the Al Qarara Seed Bank. Located in a makeshift tent in Deir el-Balah, the bank is focused on collecting, storing, and documenting local heirloom seeds, many of which were lost during the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023.

During the war, they were what helped us survive.

— Salem MuhannaSalem Muhanna, manager of the Al Qarara Seed Bank, explained the critical role heirloom seeds played during the conflict.

Managed by Salem Muhanna with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the seed bank, originally founded in 2017, aims to revive Gaza's devastated farming sector and preserve its unique agricultural heritage. Unlike commercial hybrid seeds, heirloom varieties can be saved and replanted year after year, offering greater resilience and adaptation to local conditions. Muhanna emphasized their importance, stating, "During the war, they were what helped us survive."

Heirloom seeds give continuity. They provide 80 to 90 percent of the same yield repeatedly. That is why we relied on heirloom seeds.

— Salem MuhannaSalem Muhanna elaborated on the reliability and importance of heirloom seeds for survival and agricultural continuity.

The conflict took a heavy toll on the seed bank, completely destroying its original facility and leading to the loss of numerous seed varieties. Salem's daughter, Hanadi Muhanna, who also manages the project, described the challenges of displacement and the difficulty of starting over. "Eventually we settled in Deir el-Balah and managed, thankfully, to establish a small tent. We created something simple using basic means," she explained.

In addition, because we were repeatedly displaced, it was difficult to start over again.

— Hanadi MuhannaHanadi Muhanna, who also manages the project, described the difficulties faced due to displacement after the destruction of the original seed bank.

Despite the setbacks, the team has managed to rebuild a collection using available resources, carefully labeling and protecting the remaining seeds. The initiative is crucial for Gaza's agricultural sector, which accounted for about 10 percent of the territory's economy before the war. Currently, only three percent of Gaza's cropland remains accessible and undamaged, highlighting the critical need for initiatives like the Al Qarara Seed Bank to support recovery and food security.

Eventually we settled in Deir el-Balah and managed, thankfully, to establish a small tent. We created something simple using basic means.

— Hanadi MuhannaHanadi Muhanna detailed the efforts to rebuild the seed bank's operations in a temporary location.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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