The Syrian Arab Republic: Farmers struggle amid worst agricultural crisis in decades

Syria’s agriculture sector is reeling from one of the worst droughts in nearly 40 years, compounded by over 14 years of conflict, widespread destruction of infrastructure and deep economic collapse. These overlapping crises are driving food production to alarming lows  and placing unbearable pressure on thousands of farmers across the country.

During a recent field visit to meet and engage with vulnerable farmers, Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, emphasized the severity of the situation:

This year’s wheat harvest—a staple for Syrian households—is at record-low levels. FAO estimates that production in 2025 will fall between 900 000 and 1.1 million tonnes, among the lowest harvests ever recorded in Syria.

“This is a challenging situation that could push the number of food-insecure people beyond 14 million,” warned Paulsen. “This sharp drop reflects widespread crop failure, input shortages, and compounding effects of drought. FAO and partners are alarming the consequence of increasing the number of food insecure people to over 14 million people, Unless urgent agricultural assistance is delivered ahead of the next planting season, millions more families risk sliding into hunger and irreversible livelihood loss,” he adds.

Interventions on the Ground

Fourteen years of crisis have devastated Syria’s agricultural systems: irrigation networks lie damaged or destroyed, vast areas remain contaminated by landmines and debris, and farmers face severe shortages of inputs, technical support, and market access—all exacerbated by desertification and climate shocks. Despite these challenges, smallholder farmers continue to call for support to return to their land and restore their livelihoods.

FAO is standing alongside vulnerable farmers, by delivering timely and integrated interventions to sustain production and improve living conditions, leaving no one behind.

A high-level FAO delegation—including:  Maurizio Martina, FAO Deputy Director-General; Rein Paulsen, Director of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience; AbdulHakim Al Waer, FAO Assistant Director- General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa and Toni Ettel, Acting Representative for FAO in the Syrian Arab Republic— have conducted a one-day field visit to rural Hama to speak with farmers, and to witness three impactful interventions:

• The National Biological Laboratory in Hama, now fully operational, providing science-based and sustainable solutions to control the spread of water hyacinth.
• A women-led food processing unit in rural Hama, empowering vulnerable women with micro-business and managerial skills to generate income and support their families.
• A Farmer Field School, offering safe learning spaces where farmers adopt good agricultural practices and climate-smart techniques to boost food production.

Reflecting on these efforts, AbdulHakim Al Waer stressed:

“Transforming farmers’ lives from aid-dependent to resilient, self-sufficient producers is key to improving food production. Most farmers emphasized the importance of returning to their land—their only source of livelihood,”

He further highlighted FAO’s 2025–2027 Emergency and Recovery Plan of Action (ERPA), which aims to reach 9.7 million people (1.6 million households) with emergency, resilience, and early recovery support.

“Our strategy focuses on delivering immediate life-saving assistance while laying the foundation for long-term recovery and resilience in rural areas,” added Al Waer.

Syrians Deserve a Better Future

As the country enters a new phase, Syrians deserve the chance to rebuild their lives with the support of the international community. This year’s drought and resulting wheat shortage—projected at 2.73 million metric tons—could leave more than 16 million people struggling to access food for an entire year.

To address this looming crisis, FAO is calling for USD 286.7 million under its Emergency and Recovery Plan of Action (ERPA) 2025–2027. The plan seeks to deliver urgent life-saving support while investing in resilience and long-term recovery, ensuring farmers can produce food for themselves, their families, and their communities.

“FAO remains steadfast in its commitment to stand with Syria’s farmers in times of crisis,” states Maurizio Martina, FAO Deputy Director-General.

Martina stresses that by combining emergency assistance with long-term recovery and resilience measures, FAO is ensuring that farmers are not only able to survive today’s challenges but are also empowered to rebuild stronger, more sustainable agricultural livelihoods for the future.