Salama Ayesh Muhanna recalls the pride of planting his first cucumber seeds at 17 on his family’s plot in al‑Qarara, a small Gaza town where farming runs deep in the community’s veins. Today, that same spirit fuels the family‑run Al‑Qarara Seed Bank, an initiative dedicated to preserving and distributing locally adapted seed varieties to bolster Palestinian food sovereignty. By collecting, multiplying and sharing heirloom seeds, the bank aims to reduce reliance on imported produce and protect agricultural heritage amid ongoing economic and political pressures. The effort not only safeguards biodiversity but also offers a tangible pathway toward greater self‑sufficiency for Gaza’s farmers and their families.
Family-run Al-Qarara Seed Bank is striving to help Palestinians gain sovereignty over their food securitySalama Ayesh Muhanna still remembers the first seeds he planted on his family’s land in al-Qarara, Gaza. At just 17, Muhanna had proudly sprouted cucumbers.“I was very happy because I saw the results,” Muhanna says. “We were farmers at heart.” Continue reading...
