Fields of Struggle
The wheat fields outside Seqalbia, near Hama, should be golden and heavy with grain. Instead, Maher Haddad’s 40 dunums (10 acres) remain dry and empty, yielding barely a third of their usual harvest. “This year was disastrous due to drought,” said the 46-year-old farmer, surveying the land that cost more to sow than it produced. His fields delivered only 190kg (418 lbs) of wheat per dunum, far below the 400–500kg he expects in a normal year. “We haven’t recovered what we spent on agriculture. We’ve lost money. I can’t finance next year and I can’t cover the cost of food and drink,” he added. With two teenage daughters to feed, he now borrows money from relatives just to survive.
A Nation on the Edge
Mr Haddad’s struggle reflects a wider crisis across Syria. The worst drought in 36 years has slashed wheat harvests by 40%, pushing nearly 90% of the population—already living in poverty—closer to a severe food emergency. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts a wheat shortfall of 2.73 million tonnes this year, enough to feed 16.25 million people for a year. Without increased food aid or the ability to import wheat, hunger will rise dramatically, warned Piro Tomaso Perri, FAO’s senior program officer for Syria. “Food insecurity could reach unprecedented levels by late 2025 into mid-2026,” he said. More than 14 million Syrians already struggle to eat, six in ten facing insufficient nutrition.
Rainfall Collapse
The FAO report shows rainfall has dropped nearly 70%, devastating 75% of Syria’s rain-fed farmland. “This is the difference between families staying in their communities or being forced to migrate,” Mr Perri said. “Urban households face rising bread prices. Rural families face the collapse of their livelihoods.” Farmers sell livestock to cover lost wheat income. Many families reduce daily meals. Malnutrition among children and pregnant women is increasing.
Rising Bread Prices Hit Families Hard
Wheat forms the backbone of Syria’s diet, used for bread and pasta. The lack of wheat pushes prices up. For 39-year-old widow Sanaa Mahamid, buying bread has become a daily struggle. She supports six children aged nine to 20 on her two sons’ salaries, which cannot cover basic expenses. “Sometimes we borrow money just to buy bread,” she said. A bag of bread cost 500 Syrian pounds last year but now costs 4,500 pounds. Sanaa needs two bags daily, totaling 9,000 pounds, before other food costs. “This is too much. This is just bread, and we still need other things,” she said.
Government and Aid Response
The drought challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as his administration rebuilds Syria after the 14-year conflict and the removal of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. International agencies like the UN World Food Programme (WFP) are working with the government to provide bread subsidies for those at risk. Officials caution that subsidies only offer temporary relief. Long-term stability depends on farmers staying on their land and maintaining production. “We’re trying to keep people in the farming game,” said Marianne Ward, WFP country director. She provided $8 million in direct payments to 150,000 small farmers who lost crops. “If farmers can’t make money, they leave the land, and the agriculture sector suffers,” she warned.
Challenges in Agriculture
Syria’s agricultural sector already suffered from economic collapse, destroyed irrigation systems, and mined fields after over a decade of war. Dr Ali Aloush, agriculture director for Deir al-Zour, Syria’s breadbasket, explained that wheat fields require irrigation four to six times per season. Due to scarce rain, most farmers could not keep up. “The farmer’s primary concern is securing water, which requires fuel. Fuel prices skyrocketed to 11,000–12,000 Syrian pounds per litre,” Dr Aloush said. High fuel costs and power cuts prevent water pumps from running. Many growers carry heavy debts. The transitional government prioritizes investment in irrigation, including solar-powered drip systems, to provide water access, but these projects require time and money.
Waiting for Rain
For millions of Syrians, the coming months hold only one hope: rain. Without it, the drought will continue to devastate livelihoods, push families into deeper poverty, and intensify a national food crisis.
