Syria is naturally exposed to a chronic shortage of water and may face greater water scarcity in the coming decades, not least due to the ongoing conflict and climate change. The Syrian crisis that started in 2012 has led to land abandonment and the displacement of large swathes of the rural population, with a resulting deterioration in soil conditions and, more generally, the agricultural sector and national economy. Faced with stiff competition for water resources, agriculture needs to improve its water-use efficiency while sustainably contributing to food security and the rural economy.

 This initiative supports a review of the Syrian Arab Republic’s post-crisis needs and aims to restore essential capacity for sustainable natural-resource planning and management. It will help develop participatory action plans for the Syrian Arab Republic’s agricultural recovery and proposes national and local-level action to implement sustainable land, soil and water management practices using FAO tools appropriate to each context.

In irrigated agriculture, the main aim is to increase land and water productivity while maintaining soil and water quality, using sustainable management practices. In rainfed agriculture, the aim is to secure stable high yields in food and feed crops by improving rotations and land use, drought preparedness, better water-harvesting and value addition. In rangeland areas, the aim is to organize husbandry activities for balanced land use, given the sensitivity to drought and degradation, and restore protected areas.

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