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Palestinian farmers have <\/span>called<\/span><\/a> on the UN to put pressure on Israel to allow them to market and sell their produce in the West Bank.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Farmers sat outside the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN in Gaza city on 17 October protesting the blockade’s suffocating effects on the local agriculture industry.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The banners held by farmers displayed <\/span>slogans<\/span><\/a> calling on local and international organisations working to expand farmers‘ rights to take action. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Products produced in Gaza are banned from being sold in both the Palestinian and Israeli markets. Farmers are desperate for a source of income, <\/span>the Director of the Agricultural Cooperative Association, Mohamed Ghaben, <\/span>told<\/span><\/a> <\/span>the Anadolu Agency.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Farmers in Gaza already suffer huge losses as it is; <\/span>15,000<\/span><\/a> tonnes of surplus produce currently sit in storage.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “In addition, the farmer, in case of loss, will be forced to lay off workers on his farm, which leads to an increase in the unemployment rate and poverty,” Ghaden <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last month a Palestinian popular committee <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that 85 per cent of the population in Gaza live below the poverty line due to the Israeli blockade.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Selling agricultural products is not only a vital economic sustenance but also a lifeline for farmers. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A PalTrade fact sheet <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that since 2007, Israel has banned all exports from Gaza including shipments to the West Bank.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n