Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture in Syria
ICARDA, in collaboration with Action Against Hunger-Spain (AAH) and with funding from the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (EU-DGNEAR), has launched a project titled "Building Food Security and Livelihood Resilience in Syria."
As part of this initiative, Conservation Agriculture (CA) technology is being disseminated to benefit farmers in several Syrian governorates. The project aims to promote sustainable agriculture practices, improve livelihoods, and enhance food security in the country.
Benefits for Farmers
Under the supervision of ICARDA, 17 locally manufactured CA seeders are being distributed to participating farmers in the first phase of the project. Conservation agriculture focuses on three key principles:
- Minimum or no tillage
- Permanent soil covering with crop residues
- Diversified agricultural rotations
By adopting these practices, farmers can achieve environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture.
Positive Outcomes of Conservation Agriculture
ICARDA has previously implemented CA practices in Syria, demonstrating its effectiveness compared to traditional agriculture methods. The benefits include:
- Higher crop yields
- Reduced seed requirements during planting
- Minimized soil preparation
- Decreased fuel consumption
- Improved soil structure
- Increased nutrient and organic matter content
- Enhanced soil moisture
Targeted Governorates and Crops
The project is targeting 1100 farmers in Aleppo, Hama, Edlib, and Hasaka Governorates. Out of the total beneficiaries, 100 farmers will receive barley seeds distributed by ICARDA, sourced from the Tel Hadya farm. The remaining 1000 farmers will plant lentils. Alongside the distribution of seeds, comprehensive training sessions on CA techniques will be provided to the participating farmers.
