More than 72,000 farming and herding families in the West Bank, representing nearly two-thirds of all agricultural households, urgently need emergency agricultural assistance, according to a new survey by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The findings highlight the scale of vulnerability within the sector, which remains critical to livelihoods and food security across the territory.
The survey indicates that around 90 percent of agricultural families have recently lost income due to steep declines in crop and livestock production and reduced sales. These findings are drawn from FAO’s Data in Emergencies survey conducted between July and August 2025, capturing the growing economic strain on rural households.
Agriculture continues to serve as a vital lifeline for the West Bank population. Out of an estimated 700,000 families living in the territory, about 115,000 depend on agriculture as their primary source of income, underscoring the sector’s central role in sustaining household food access and economic stability.
FAO officials stress that the situation requires urgent intervention. The survey points to widespread income loss driven by settler violence, a deepening economic crisis, and persistent insecurity, leaving families in need of both cash-based and in-kind agricultural support to cope with ongoing shocks.
Funded by the European Union, the assessment is among the most comprehensive evaluations of how the Gaza Strip conflict has affected West Bank farming and herding communities. More than 1,500 families participated, including crop producers, livestock owners, and households engaged in both activities.
The survey reveals that nearly nine in ten agricultural families have experienced at least one acute shock in recent months. The most commonly reported challenges include conflict-related violence, rising living costs, and loss of employment, compounding already fragile livelihoods.
Before October 2023, many households relied on off-farm employment to supplement their income, with a significant share working in Israel or Israeli settlements. Following the outbreak of conflict, the vast majority of these workers lost their jobs, and fewer than half have managed to secure alternative employment, often returning to agriculture despite mounting constraints on farming activities.
Families also face severe operational challenges, including limited access to water, restrictions on movement and land use, shortages of affordable agricultural inputs, and high fuel and transportation costs, all of which further undermine productivity.
Despite these difficulties, agriculture remains one of the most effective pathways for households to secure food and income. FAO emphasizes that timely emergency agricultural assistance, including inputs, livestock support, water infrastructure, and veterinary services, is essential to help families restore production, protect their assets, and prevent a deeper humanitarian crisis, alongside the need for unimpeded humanitarian access and adequate funding.
