Enab Baladi – Lama Diab | Bisan Khalaf
Syria has entered a water crisis, particularly after the dangerous decline in rivers and springs, alongside climate changes that have caused rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, which have negatively impacted the country’s agricultural sector.
This year, Syria is facing a severe agricultural crisis due to a drought considered the worst in more than six decades, threatening wheat crops and increasing the risk of food insecurity for about 16 million people, according to United Nations estimates.
The drought, harsh climate conditions, reduced rainfall, and the short winter season have damaged about 2.5 million hectares of wheat-cultivated land, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FAO data indicates that 95% of rainfed wheat has been almost completely damaged, while irrigated wheat production is expected to be 30–40% lower than usual, warning of a gap between 2.5 and 2.7 million tons in local production.
The agricultural plan across Syria has been negatively affected by this unprecedented severity, with reduced rainfall, declining groundwater levels, spring flows, and dam storage. This results in economic losses for farmers, extends to livestock due to feed shortages, deteriorating pastures, and the spread of diseases in agricultural crops.
The decline in agricultural activity linked to drought worsens the living crisis in a country undergoing a transitional period while facing the effects of years of conflict. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in food security and provides income for many families, especially in rural areas of Syria.
Climate Changes in the Region… Local Problems Exacerbate the Crisis
Stress on Water Basins
Water basins in Syria (Barada and Awaj, Yarmouk, Orontes, Coastal, Euphrates) have suffered for years from severe stress due to unregulated and unsupervised use of water for irrigation, according to agricultural expert Engineer Abdul Rahman Qarnafleh.
Qarnafleh noted that what Syria is experiencing applies to most Arab regions, as they are located in arid climates and barren lands. Surface water (rivers, natural lakes or dams, springs) and groundwater (shallow and deep wells) constitute the main sources of irrigation, which consumes about 85% of total renewable water resources.
A recent scientific study showed that before climate change, drought occurred once every 250 years, but with a 1.2°C temperature rise, the probability increased to once every ten years, and with a two-degree rise, drought may occur once every five years.
Drought effects on the Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib – August 5, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mohammad Mosto)
From Intermittent to Extended Crisis
In recent decades, the frequency and recurrence of drought waves have increased, exacerbating the deficit of water basins, which were further depleted due to the lack of government oversight over water extraction, according to Qarnafleh.
He explained that the extraction caused by irrigating lands beyond planned areas left most of these basins in a state of water deficit (withdrawals exceeding inflows), pushing many farmers to deepen wells, thereby increasing the depletion of water resources.
Syria experienced an increasing trend toward drought between 1981 and 2021, with major drought events recorded in 1999, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2021, culminating in the current wave. This indicates that drought is shifting from being seasonal and intermittent to extended and increasing.
The Director of Water Resources in Tartus province, Mohammad Mahrouz, told Enab Baladi that estimates show a decline of more than 70% in the flow of al-Sin Spring, located on the administrative border between Tartus and Latakia, as of July 23, compared to the same period in 2024.
This decline negatively affected water supply from the spring, and consequently, the agricultural situation in Syria’s coastal region, as well as in other parts of the country.
Illegal Extraction Exacerbates the Crisis
Illegal water extraction worsens the negative impact on groundwater and surface water, especially since the country has experienced consecutive drought seasons, the harshest of which was in 2024, according to agricultural engineer and expert in plant physiology and climate effects, Anas Rahmoun.
Rahmoun told Enab Baladi that shallow wells are more sensitive to dry seasons than deep groundwater wells because they rely on rainfall, while deeper aquifers are less affected. However, if drought persists, deep wells will also yield negative outcomes.
He pointed out that alternative solutions for water extraction from wells require medium- and long-term plans by the government and organizations to adopt water harvesting techniques—using every drop of rainfall in coastal areas, building dams, and collecting water in reservoirs and artificial lakes.
Weak Efficiency of Irrigation Systems
A law mandating the shift to modern irrigation was issued years ago. Despite the “support” provided by relevant ministries to encourage farmers to adopt modern irrigation methods, farmers’ adoption has remained limited. The issue lies not only in irrigation methods themselves but in the efficiency of their use and regular maintenance. Regardless of efficiency, systems deteriorate without proper upkeep, Qarnafleh noted.
He added that Syria uses a variety of irrigation systems, ranging from traditional flood irrigation to modern methods (sprinkler, drip, etc.). Drought has sharply reduced water availability, lowering the efficiency of traditional systems, while poor maintenance has also reduced the efficiency of modern systems by more than 60%.
“Modern irrigation systems suffer from poor maintenance, reducing their efficiency by more than 60%.”
Engineer Abdul Rahman Qarnafleh
Agricultural Expert
In drought conditions, flood irrigation is likely to be halted, making the shift to modern irrigation inevitable. Installing water meters on well outlets to regulate withdrawals according to actual crop needs is also essential, said Qarnafleh.
He stressed the need for urgent maintenance of all irrigation networks severely damaged during the years of war and called on relevant ministries to prepare plans to address this issue.
Farmer plowing land in rural Daraa – February 2, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mahjoub al-Hashish)
Changes in the Agricultural Crop Map
The decline in water resources has led to changes in agricultural plans and alterations in the crop structure according to the availability of water. Agricultural plans witnessed a significant reduction in the planned area for cotton and sugar beet cultivation due to declining water resources, with a shift towards crops that require less water, according to agricultural expert engineer Abdul Rahman Qarqnfaleh.
Many farmers resort to securing a stable water source, especially when river water levels drop, by turning to groundwater in an unlicensed manner. This exacerbates the severity of drought and its consequences for water and food security in the short and medium term.
Qarqnfaleh pointed out that the agricultural plans developed by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy (formerly the Ministry of Water Resources), along with all entities working in the agricultural sector, depend on the availability of water resources. Planned cultivation areas for certain crops are reduced in times of drought, or replaced with crops more suited to the available water.
Strategic Crops the Most Affected
The main winter grain crops (wheat and barley) are among the most affected by changing rainfall rates. They suffer from poor germination, halted growth, or reduced productivity depending on the timing and amount of rainfall. The key factor is not only the total rainfall, but also its distribution across the season according to plant development needs. Cultivation will likely shift toward crops requiring less water.
Agricultural expert Abdul Rahman Qarqnfaleh said that although the 2025 agricultural season began with acceptable rainfall amounts in September, precipitation declined sharply by early January, with a complete halt across Syrian provinces, resuming again in February and then dropping in March, according to statistics from the General Directorate of Meteorology.
Rainfall rates decreased by more than 45% compared to previous years, and most of the areas classified as agricultural stability zones in Syria have become arid or semi-arid, according to meteorological data.
Farmers were forced to sell rainfed wheat crops to livestock breeders to offset some of their losses, while others could not “lease” their crops due to weak growth. According to former director of organic production and director of the Early Warning System for Drought, Mohammad Bahri, rainfed crop growth this season is very weak across most provinces, rendering them unsuitable for “leasing” or use.
Farmers’ struggles are not limited to losses in rainfed farming. Even irrigated agriculture faces major challenges due to a lack of water resources and dried-up wells, pushing farmers to rely on water pumping or purchasing tanker water.
To mitigate losses, some farmers resorted to digging random wells or pumping water from existing wells. However, this is not a viable long-term solution, as it depletes groundwater in the context of climate change, which will exacerbate drought globally in the future.
New Varieties and Plans Based on Availability
The decline in rainfed farming and the lack of water resources forced many farmers to change the identity of their crops, cultivating irrigated crops instead. They also reduced crops with high water consumption in some areas, while introducing new crops adapted to available resources in others. This gave a new shape to the local agricultural map, but simultaneously deepened the water crisis, according to agricultural engineer and plant physiology and climate impact expert Anas Rahmoun.
The decline in rainfed farming and the lack of water resources forced many farmers to change the identity of their crops, which gave a new shape to the local agricultural map, while simultaneously deepening the water crisis.
Anas Rahmoun
Agricultural Engineer and Plant Physiology
and Climate Impact Expert
Rahmoun told Enab Baladi that the matter is not about the agricultural map of certain regions as much as it is about the strategic plans that must be followed, whereby crops are grown in areas that are environmentally suitable for them.
Changing crop identities through individual initiatives, or sometimes experiments such as cultivating balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum), poses risks by introducing alien crop varieties that require large amounts of water and are incompatible with the Syrian environment, Rahmoun warned.
40% of Land Left Uncultivated
Syrian economic expert Dr. Ali Mohammad told Enab Baladi that 40% of arable land planned for cultivation this season remained uncultivated, according to reports. This means a decline in agricultural production of all types, whether staple crops (wheat, barley, and others), fruit trees, or seasonal crops that require large quantities of water.
Mohammad added that this year has also seen wildfires, which are not new to Syria. Since 2010, fires have regularly occurred during summer, and this year alone hundreds of thousands of hectares were consumed, including forested, fruit-bearing, and consumer-crop lands.
Since 2010, fires have regularly occurred during summer, and this year alone hundreds of thousands of hectares were consumed, including forested, fruit-bearing, and consumer-crop lands.
Dr. Ali Mohammad
Syrian Economic Expert
Mohammad explained that “more than one million olive trees burned,” representing over 10% of Syria’s olive stock. This will reduce table olive production, in addition to declining citrus yields. All these factors together contribute to a reduction in agricultural production.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent carries out temporary emergency projects by installing water tanks to accommodate the return of displaced people in the village of al-Huwayjah in the Hama countryside – April 27, 2025 (Syrian Arab Red Crescent/Facebook)
Decline in Agricultural Production.. What Are the Solutions?
The shortage of water, coupled with the fires that occurred, led to a decrease in the amount of water allocated for agriculture, and consequently to a decline in agricultural production, especially crops that require constant irrigation, according to economic expert Dr. Ali Mohammed.
The expert believes that the decline in agricultural production will lead to a decrease in the supply of agricultural products compared to stable or rising demand, which will result in higher prices, with an estimated 16 million Syrians suffering from food insecurity, while the economic situation remains unchanged. If imports are resorted to, they will come at a higher cost.
Imports as a “Temporary Solution”
Given the intertwined circumstances, importation is one of the solutions to address the shortage in food supply, according to economic expert Dr. Ali Mohammed, who hopes it will remain only a temporary solution until there is a comprehensive strategy to support agricultural production and the agricultural sector in general, as it represents an important percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and secures food for Syrians.
Mohammed also explained that the shortage in food supply must be addressed within a short timeframe, with streamlined import processes to minimize delays and ensure the timely arrival of the required products. This would prevent market shocks or price hikes, keeping the market balanced instead.
According to the expert, the agricultural sector in Syria accounts for a considerable portion of GDP. Since the 1970s until today, this share has ranged between 25% and 33% of GDP, sometimes reaching up to 30%. In the 1990s, it possibly rose to 33%, before dropping to just 17% in 2007.
This decline is attributed to consecutive drought crises and then the Syrian war, which caused a contraction across all GDP-forming sectors. Mohammed noted that the agricultural sector may have maintained a 20–30% share in GDP, but this does not mean it is stable; rather, the decline in other sectors contributed to this share. This, he stressed, is not a reliable indicator since the current GDP is distorted.
As for the agricultural challenges Syria faces, Mohammed said there are two primary ones: drought and fires, in addition to the decline in the percentage of workers in the agricultural sector, which has reduced cultivated and planned farmland, thus weakening the sector overall.
“There are two main challenges: drought and fires, in addition to the decline in the percentage of workers in agriculture, reducing cultivated areas and planned lands, and weakening the sector overall.”
Dr. Ali Mohammed
Syrian economic expert
Urban expansion into agricultural areas is another challenge, as housing takes place at the expense of farmland, in addition to the absence of integrated plans for agriculture, production, marketing, sales, exports, and imports, Mohammed said.
Drought-Resistant Agriculture
The issue of drought-resistant crops requires an integrated agricultural strategy that considers the needs of the local market, with a focus on essential crops that form part of Syrian food security, according to economic expert Dr. Ali Mohammed.
He stressed the importance of knowing the exact needs of these crops, as some may even exceed demand and support exports. Export revenues, in turn, can finance the import of other water-intensive crops, achieving balance. This requires educating farmers and designing agricultural infrastructure that reduces water consumption.
Workers preparing potatoes in rural Daraa – March 24, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mahjoub al-Hashish)
Proposals for Crisis Management
Dr. Maen Daniel Dawood, water negotiator and specialist in technical sciences and water facilities, told Enab Baladi that the biggest factor behind the local water resources crisis is chronic, long-term mismanagement and misuse of the national water resource.
This mismanagement, according to Dawood, is rooted in a populist, unscientific, and illogical view of natural resources as personal wealth to be exploited without restrictions or regulations.
Dawood noted that this administrative perspective results in outcomes far removed from even the simplest environmental, economic, social, and ethical standards governing usage in terms of both quantity and quality. Water resources have been and continue to be allocated through mechanisms that strip them of their optimal economic return.
Locally, water sources are depleted, he said, to achieve small, unfair, short-term profits at the expense of future economic and environmental costs, with disastrous social repercussions.
When asked about steps toward solutions, the lecturer at the Higher Institute of Regional Planning, Dr. Maen Daniel Dawood, proposed several measures, including:
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Adopting the economic identity of Syria’s developmental regions and their diverse human activities, determined by secondary and minor water basins and their main human activities, while publicizing the economic, social, and environmental benefits of those activities.
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Allocating available water resources according to the requirements of anticipated activities, including agriculture, but ranked lower than other uses such as energy generation, drinking water, livestock irrigation, urban services, and industrial activities.
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Relying on national economic planning mechanisms, not necessarily centralized or tied to a single ideological economic model, but capable of generating added value and returns to meet food security needs at individual, community, regional, and national levels.
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Ensuring genuine participatory decision-making with target communities during planning stages, when presenting alternatives in the water sector and assessing usage capabilities, while avoiding planning deficits from the outset when determining resources needed for plan implementation.
Dawood explained that feasible alternatives provide scientific answers to planning issues tied to rational, sustainable activities for Syrian society, within the constraints posed by previous challenges.
In principle, Dawood added, the decline in available water resources at the basin level plays a decisive role in shaping planning and technical alternatives. The inevitable reduction in water resources in the coming years will impact allocation priorities, in turn reshaping the future concept of agriculture that Syrians have traditionally relied on.
Shift Toward Animal Production and Recycling
Agricultural activities, according to Dawood, will shift toward animal-based production and away from plant-based (irrigated or rainfed). Efficient animal production yields 8–12 times the material and environmental returns of plant production per unit of water used.
Dawood noted that plant production (primarily irrigated farming) remains the primary and currently available activity for temporarily absorbing excess labor nationally during the post-war recovery stage. This allows continued use of various water types within conditions defined by crop type, water reuse frequency, local environment, and activity type.
To bridge part of the shortage, Dawood recommends using treated wastewater from urban and industrial sources, which was previously utilized for restricted industrial or productive farming, or environmental rehabilitation of water and natural resources.
Such efforts, he explained, include producing primary fodder crops to be later evaluated and processed for integration into the human food chain.
As an example, Dawood said that when allocating scarce water in a low-resource area (such as the Barada Basin) for drinking and urban services for a community of 10,000 housing units (around 47,000 residents), the annual water demand is around 1.6–1.85 million cubic meters.
Of this, about 1.0–1.2 million cubic meters return through sewage networks, which, after primary and secondary treatment, can irrigate 250–400 hectares of forests, meadows, and fodder legumes, or about 200–220 hectares of restricted vegetable crops (not eaten raw).
Agricultural wastewater, Dawood added, can recharge groundwater in the area with about 200,000–230,000 cubic meters of discharged water, meeting public waterway standards.
Worker spraying pomegranate crops with pesticides in al-Ajami village, rural Daraa – April 19, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mahjoub al-Hashish)
What About the Government’s Response to the Crisis?
Director-General of the General Authority for Water Resources under the Ministry of Energy in Syria, Engineer Ahmed Kawan, revealed to Enab Baladi that work is underway to redraft the Water Legislation Law No. 31 of 2005. The amendments involve revising penalty clauses to match the current reality of violations and infringements on surface and groundwater sources.
Kawan considered that the new law would act as a deterrent to anyone attempting to illegally exploit water, including unauthorized well drilling.
He clarified that the primary domestic consumer of water is the agricultural sector, which consumes around 88% of resources, compared to 9% for drinking and 3% for other sectors.
“The primary domestic consumer of water is the agricultural sector, using about 88% of water resources, compared to 9% for drinking and 3% for other sectors.”
Engineer Ahmed Kawan
Director-General of the General Authority for Water Resources, Ministry of Energy, Syria
In response to questions on government measures to handle the current irrigation crisis and its impacts, Kawan said the Authority is participating in preparing an agricultural plan as part of the government’s approach to rationalize optimal water use, based on available resources, seasonal rainfall, and dam storage.
He added that plans are shifting toward crops compatible with scarce water resources—those requiring less water but offering good economic returns—along with promoting rainfed (ba’li) farming and expanding rainwater harvesting techniques.
According to Kawan, one of the solutions being pursued is securing alternative water sources through treating municipal and industrial wastewater before discharge, to use in agricultural irrigation while protecting water resources from pollution.
The shift to modern irrigation systems, which save about 50% of irrigation water compared to traditional methods and raise efficiency to about 90%, is another measure taken in response to drought waves, Kawan noted.
He stressed the importance of promoting collective irrigation practices and water-use partnerships by forming water-user associations to ensure effective, participatory water management, better monitoring of withdrawals, and installation of modern irrigation networks.
Addressing illegal well-drilling, Kawan explained that authorities are sealing unauthorized wells, confiscating drilling equipment, filing legal cases, and referring violators to court, in order to protect aquifers from ongoing depletion.
On medium- and long-term plans to mitigate future drought and irrigation crises and ensure water stability for farmers, Kawan said there are several water harvesting projects aimed at capturing every possible drop, including building dams, barriers, and reservoirs.
Currently, the Authority is implementing several dams: Baradon (Latakia), Wadi al-Abyad (Idlib), al-Sakhaba (Latakia), Afamia C and B (Hama), Khan Tuman (Aleppo), al-Muwailih (Idlib), Faqi Hassan (Latakia), and al-Balouta (Tartus). Additional dams and reservoirs are under construction in Tartus, Hama, and Homs, while several have been completed in Suwayda.
Kawan added that there are ready studies for implementing more dams, barriers, and reservoirs across different provinces.
He also noted that previous studies are being reactivated on transferring surplus coastal water to Damascus and further south to Daraa and Suwayda
, as well as transferring Euphrates water to Palmyra and Hassia, reaching Lake Qattinah.
Kawan further spoke of agreements with neighboring countries, including one with Jordan on sharing the Yarmouk Basin, one with Lebanon on the Orontes River and al-Kabir al-Janoubi River, and others with Iraq and Turkey over the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
These agreements are monitored through joint committees, and recently, the Syrian-Jordanian joint committee was reestablished, beginning with a visit by the Syrian Minister of Energy to Jordan, followed by technical committee exchanges. Work continues to activate all joint committees to secure Syria’s fair share of shared waters, Kawan confirmed.
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