Severe Drought Ravages Syria: Agriculture and Economy Under Threat

An intense drought, the most severe one witnessed in years, is currently ravaging much of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. This environmental calamity has led to parched lakes and rivers, desiccated crops, and prolonged tap water shortages in huge urban areas. Of all the regions, Syria is encountering the toughest predicament, a result of decreasing rainfall over consecutive years. Additionally, the new Syrian government’s efforts to rebuild the nation, tattered from a debilitating 14-year civil war, have left the populace in a state of acute poverty and heavily dependent on international assistance.

The parching drought has deeply impacted Syria’s agricultural sector. One such small-farmer, Mansour Mahmoud al-Khatib, hailing from a neighborhood in Damascus, explains the current situation. Amid the years of conflict, his access to his farms was frequently obstructed by road barricades set up by Hezbollah militia, allies of the then-president Bashar Assad. These obstacles faded post the December rebellion, which saw Assad’s regime collapse, however, the drought has now wreaked havoc on his farmland, depleting the farming wells of water.

Mansour, in his discussion with The Associated Press, voiced his anguish over the paucity of water in the area. He further elaborated, ‘This farming season has been particularly grim. It’s barely a full season. Some years are favorable, others less so, but this year is brutally severe.’

Mansour’s fertile land, in a more prosperous year, could yield approximately 1,764 to 1,984 pounds per dunam, equivalent to 0.1 hectares or 0.25 acres, of wheat. However, this year the harvest has shrunk to about one-fourth of the usual yield. This shortage has led him to contract as few as six or seven laborers for the harvest season versus the usual 15 hired in previous years.

Financial woes beset these famers who, already reeling from the aftermath of the prolonged war, now find themselves grappling with the adverse effects of the severe drought. As Jalal Al Hamoud, the national food security officer for the Food and Agriculture Organization under the United Nations in Syria, says, ‘Their ability to deal with these conditions are significantly constrained.’

Once self-sufficient in meeting domestic wheat needs, Syria produced an average of 3.5 to 4.5 million tons annually prior to the war. This figure fell to a range of 2.2 to 2.6 million tons during the periods of conflict. Consequently, in recent years, the Syrian government has had to import between 60% and 70% of wheat for consumption by its populace of around 23 million. This year, the output is likely to dwindle further to around 1 million tons, necessitating increased dependency on foreign wheat imports.

This increased demand for imports is exerting strain on Syria’s already stretched resources. A representative from Syria’s Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection revealed that this year’s wheat production will suffice for just two or three months. Consequently, the government is banking on import contracts and wheat donations, including those from neighboring Iraq, for sustenance.

Food insufficiency looms over half of Syria’s populace, leading to rising concerns about over-dependence on imports and aid, which could potentially jeopardize food security. Hence, this reliance is considered unsustainable in the long run.

Alongside the drought, Syria is also grappling with monumental issues like reconstruction in the aftermath of the war, an effort that is likely to run into hundreds of billions of dollars. As its former leaders have fled, Syria is frequently disrupted by bouts of sectarian violence, and skepticism is growing about the ability of the new authorities to maintain political stability.

Syria’s instability makes it unlikely that the millions of refugees who fled during the war will return, given the lack of job opportunities and security. Existential threats like these are further amplified by the ongoing drought, making the country’s situation increasingly precarious. Highlighting this, the Orontes, or the Assi, the largest river in the region which sustain numerous fishermen and irrigates multiple fields has steadily been drying up this year.

In the broader spectrum, it is acknowledged that the Middle Eastern region, as well as the Eastern Mediterranean, is ill-prepared to face the worsening climate crisis. Climate change brings varied impacts on different regions, and these areas are rapidly drying up, becoming even more parched due to climate variability.

Examining Syria’s specific context reveals a pattern of reducing rainfall over the past four decades, while water consumption exceeds sustainable levels. Both these trends are a source of major concern, highlighting the urgent need for more resilient measures to mitigate the impacts of decreasing water availability.

Several potential solutions could be considered to combat these challenges. For instance, increasing rainwater harvesting practices, shifting to crops that are more drought-resistant, and implementing enhanced irrigation systems could help curb the water scarcity and preserve Syria’s agricultural sector amid the changing climate.