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Near Seqalbia by central Syria, wheat fields should be golden and productive with crops.

Instead, a local farmer's plot sits barren, generating just a portion of its usual harvest.

"The current season has been catastrophic as a result of the lack of rain," stated the experienced grower.

The land produced only 190kg per plot—far below the typical amount seen in a normal period.

"{We did not recoup what we spent; we've suffered financially. There's no way to finance next year's operations," he continued.

Having two growing daughters to feed, he is relying on money from relatives to make ends meet.

National Situation

This plight is repeated throughout Syria, where the gravest dry period in over three decades has reduced wheat harvests by 40%.

An anticipated wheat shortfall of 2.73 million tonnes is predicted this season—enough to feed the annual dietary needs of over 16 million individuals.

Increasing Food Insecurity

Lacking increased assistance or the capacity to bring in grains, the crisis may worsen significantly.

Approximately 14 million residents—nearly 60% the public—presently struggle to get sufficient food.

Among them, over nine million face serious hunger, with over a million in critical states.

Precipitation has dropped by nearly a large percentage, crippling the majority of non-irrigated agricultural land.

"This means the distinction between families being able to stay in their villages or having to leave," stated an expert.

Daily Struggles

Agricultural families are parting with herds to supplement diminished earnings, cutting back their food intake.

Hunger-related issues rates among young ones and women are increasing.

Crops is a basic commodity in Syria, essential for bread and noodles—cheap foods that are now becoming more expensive in price.

In the case of a widow who is thirty-nine, affording staples has become extremely difficult.

With several kids, she relies on her sons' income, which do not cover basic expenses.

"Occasionally we need to get cash simply to afford bread," she said.

Last year, a bag of bread cost 500 Syrian pounds, but today it is much more.

To feed her family, she needs multiple bags a daily—an expense of 9,000 currency units, not including other necessities.

National and Global Actions

This emergency creates a significant obstacle for the administration, which is attempting to rebuild the economy after over a decade of conflict.

Assistance organizations are supplying bread subsidies for those at risk, but representatives caution that these are short-term solutions.

"Efforts are underway to enable farmers in the farming industry," said a representative.

Direct support have been provided to agricultural families who experienced their entire crops.

However, after years of strife, Syria's agrarian sector was already damaged by economic downturn, broken irrigation systems, and unusable land.

Irrigation Crisis

Within key growing zones, wheat fields require numerous irrigation cycles per season, but as a result of shortage of rainfall, most farmers find it impossible to keep up.

"The agricultural worker's main challenge is securing resources," explained a regional agriculture director.

Irrigation requires energy, and fuel prices have skyrocketed significantly, reaching 11,000 to 12,000 pounds per unit.

Soaring fuel prices and frequent outages have left water pumps out of reach for most farmers.

Future Solutions

One priority for the government is investing in irrigation projects—like eco-friendly drip systems—to provide resources more affordable.

However these initiatives require years and resources—options that agricultural workers lack currently.

Therefore, for countless people throughout the country, there is only one thing to count on in the upcoming period: hope for precipitation.