Syrian farmers hope sanctions reprieve will restore agriculture

Severe drought in Syria this year could lead to the failure of an estimated 75% of local wheat crops, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, threatening the food security of millions of people. Toni Ettel, the FAO’s representative in Syria, told the agency anticipated a “food shortage of 2.7 million tonnes of wheat for this year, which is sufficient to feed 16.3 million people over one year.” Under former President Bashar al-Assad, Damascus depended on wheat imports from Russia to support a bread subsidy programme during past droughts. Wheat farmers like Asaad Ezzeldin, 45, have seen their crops fail due to the drought. It has further strained Syria’s beleaguered agricultural sector that suffered from fighting and heavy bombardment during 13 years of civil war. “Agriculture in Aleppo’s northern countryside has been hit because of the lack of irrigation. There is no rainfall,” he said. Moscow, a staunch ally of Assad, suspended wheat supplies to Syria ...