Agricultural Distribution

Fruit Trees

Due to the decline in the water infrastructure as a result of climate change and other catastrophic events, the production of fruit trees has declined immensely, and the shift between fruit tree production and grain led production seems more apparent than before. 

Vegetables and Rainfed Crops

As a result of the steep drop in irrigated areas, crop output in the Orontes basin was cut by approximately 70%. The loss in cultivated land and the yields of rainfed crops both contributed to a lesser extent to the decline in output. 

Olive Trees

With 471'00 hectares of orchards, mostly olive groves, the Orontes basin was one of Syria's top tree producing locations before the conflict.  It also contributed significantly to the production of livestock in the provinces of Hama, Homs, and Idlib. On the 26,000 hectares of orchards, around 15% had been devastated. Additionally, 40% of surfaces are no longer functional.

Forests 

Along the narrow, winding roads that connect the communities located amid the mountains, conifers, oaks, and bushes cover the mountains. Unfortunately, and due to to poverty circumstances, Syrian rare trees are felled by citizens for firewood.

Data Credit: Water Security in the Middle East - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooptation SDC