Damascus – The director general of the Agricultural Production Support Directorate in Syria’s interim government, Mohammed Selin, said on Friday that wide areas of farmland have fallen out of the production cycle, particularly regions dependent on rainfall.
Selin explained that the scale of damage varies between provinces and even within single provinces due to fluctuating rainfall. He noted that precipitation levels decrease further inland, putting additional pressure on agricultural communities.
According to Selin, wheat production has seen a sharp decline this year as a result of reduced rainfall, rising temperatures and persistent drought. The ministry estimates losses at nearly 40 per cent for the 2025 season, bringing local output down to about 1.2 million tonnes compared with an annual need of around 4 million tonnes.
Irrigated crops have also been hit. Selin said cotton was affected by water shortages in north-eastern Syria, which forced farmers to reduce irrigation cycles and face higher pumping costs – a combination that lowered both yield and quality. His comments were published by Al Jazeera.
The decline, he added, extends to grain quality. Rapid plant growth and shortened key stages such as flowering and grain formation have resulted in lighter, less dense grains.
Selin attributed the worsening situation to climate change, lower rainfall, unregulated well-drilling and the overuse of groundwater, which have collectively deepened long-term drought effects.
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He said addressing the crisis requires extensive cooperation between the ministry and international bodies. He confirmed ongoing coordination with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has recently conducted several workshops to support the sector, compensate for drought-related damage and rehabilitate irrigation systems affected by years of conflict.
The ministry is working to restore surface-irrigation networks and expand the use of conservation agriculture – modern techniques that reduce water loss. It is also developing climate-resilient crop varieties through national research centres and promoting sustainable farming methods that require less water.
In early July, the World Food Programme allocated USD 7.9 million in insurance compensation to help address Syria’s severe drought – the worst in five decades. According to the website Reinsurance, the funds will provide food and essential items to around 120,000 people under a pre-planned response covering key agricultural regions.
The insurance initiative is supported financially and technically by the United Kingdom and Germany through the Global Shield Financing Facility, in partnership with Humanity Insured and the Insurance Development Forum.
Matthew Dubreuil, Senior Advisor for Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance at the WFP, said financial-protection tools such as drought insurance are crucial in conflict-affected countries. He noted that progress in this area has been possible due to sustained support from international donors and partners in the insurance sector.
