The worst drought in 60 years threatens Syria's wheat crops.

Syria is experiencing an unprecedented drought in more than 60 years, resulting in a sharp decline in rainfall last winter and a shortened rainy season, causing widespread damage to wheat crops and natural pastures, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Heavy losses in wheat crop
According to FAO estimates, approximately 95% of the rainfed wheat crop has been damaged due to poor rainfall, while irrigated wheat production is expected to decline by 30 to 40%, resulting in a gap estimated at between 2.5 and 2.7 million tons in domestic production, threatening more than 16 million Syrians with food insecurity.

Groundwater is declining and production is declining.
Drought has forced farmers to pump water from great depths to irrigate their land, amid a sharp decline in groundwater levels. However, production has remained very weak, with small ears and underdeveloped grains, reflecting the severe impact of harsh climate conditions on agriculture.

A worsening food crisis
This climate catastrophe puts Syria's food security at serious risk and increases the country's dependence on wheat imports, a situation that had been self-sufficient before the war. If urgent action is not taken to support the agricultural sector, the crisis could deepen further in the coming years.