Syria’s Deir ez-Zor farmers fear planting winter crops after last season’s losses
Deir ez-Zor, Syria (North Press) – As a result of high prices of seeds, fertilizers and fuel, in addition to the lack of water, the 37-year-old Imad al-Dhaif, a farmer from the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, is afraid to plant his land with a new crop due to losses he suffered from last year.
Agricultural fields in the Deir ez-Zor countryside has declined due to war and decreasing level of Euphrates River water as a result of Turkish cutoffs.
Due to high costs of cultivation which were doubled compared to those of the last year, the farmers in the region will not plant wheat this year, al-Daif told North Press.
Among the reasons that curb farmers from cultivating lands for the new season is the decreasing level of the Euphrates water that led to difficulties in drawing it through irrigation stations on the river.
“In order to irrigate crops, farmers have resorted to digging artesian wells, whose water can be less useful compared to that of the rivers.”
Months ago, Turkey reduced the flow of the Euphrates River towards Syria, which worsened life conditions and raised resentment among resident of areas that rely on the river for drinking and irrigating their lands.
And not to mention the high prices of diesel, which is sold at 800 Syrian pounds (SYP) per liter after it was 400 last season.
Additionally, the fee of plowing with tractors reached 25,000 SYP (about $7) per acre, while, last year, it was 10,000 SYP (about $3), according to farmers.
Al-Daif called on NGOs to support cultivation in the region so that farmers can stay in their areas and continue to work, which is a major source of living.
“We have water wells in the lands, but the situation is different now as a result of the high cost of watering, such as fuel, engine spare parts, mineral oil, hoses and other transportation expenses,” the 52-year-old Muhammad al-Hamid, who is another farmer in Hajin, said.
“The price of a 50-kg sack of fertilizer reached 70,000 SYP (about $20), in addition to the high cost of seeds and the lack of insecticides,” al-Hamid added.
For his part, Jundi al-Te’mah, head of the Agriculture Committee in the eastern region, said that all the committee’s associations have been counted, and the documents of each town and village are ready with complete payrolls.
Private projects are scheduled to be licensed this month, “and fertilizer and seed will be provided at a subsidized price, and in sufficient quantities, with the aim of helping the farmers.”
Al-Te’mah promised that diesel will be provided at a subsidized price through the Agriculture Committee after completing the licenses.