Across Syria, the impacts of climate change have created severe water shortages. Since 2020, low levels of rainfall and unusually high temperatures have led to a sharp decline in water running into the Euphrates River. As Syria’s key freshwater source for agriculture, energy production and water consumption, this has had profound impacts on the country and has compounded its ongoing food crisis.
For Syria’s farmers – who make up around a quarter of the country’s population – not only does this mean less drinking water for personal consumption, it also means less water to run their farms, and keep food on the table for families across the country. As Syria looks to rebuild after over a decade of crisis, addressing critical water issues like this will be fundamental to communities’ ability to recover.
The Syria Resilience Initiative, led by CARE, Mercy Corps and IRC in partnership with Syrian NGOs, works with farmers in Syria to adapt to these changes in climate and strengthen their resilience for the future. As part of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Building Local Resilience in Syria programme, farmers have implemented new methods in water management to protect themselves from the declining water supply.
Jamile’s story: Water has become scarce
One of these farmers is Jamile*, a 50-year-old mother of seven. After losing her husband, Jamile has dedicated her life to her land, cultivating crops to support her family. But, in addition to ongoing drought, Jamile and millions of farmers across the country also face skyrocketing prices for essential agricultural supplies like seeds, fuel and fertilisers. Together, these factors weaken Syria’s already fragile food security and lead to less food for families across the country.
"Everything has become expensive—diesel, seeds, and pesticides. Meanwhile, the prices of the vegetables we grow are decreasing so that farmers can’t sell their produce. Water has become scarce; although it rained, the rainfall was insufficient, and winter is almost over. I can only cultivate a small part of my land, based on the irrigation and agricultural supplies I can afford. We work hard, but the returns we get are not enough." Jamile says.
Working with farmers to address water management
In response to this, CARE and partner IYD - through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Building Local Resilience in Syria (BLRS) programme – are implementing a project with farmers to manage water supply for agricultural use. This includes treating wastewater for agriculture, a process which takes water which has already been used, such as for domestic purposes, and safely reuses it for farming. The project also works with farmers to rehabilitate irrigation canals, which helps to ensure water supply is maintained even during times of drought.
Jamile received $300 to purchase seeds, fuel, and other agricultural supplies as well as guidance on farming techniques and pest control. She was advised to plant vegetables that require cooking, ensuring safer and healthier consumption.
"Thank God, we benefited from this support," Jamile says. "It allowed me to expand the area of land I cultivated, and I successfully sold my vegetables in the market for a good profit."
"I hope that support for farmers increases so that a larger segment of the population benefits from the project. It's not only important for the farmers but also for the entire community" she says.
