Decline in north Aleppo crop yield due to government siege
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – The siege imposed on the northern countryside of Aleppo by the Syrian government forces has greatly affected crops production in the area, as farmers are unable to obtain fertilizers and fuel to irrigate their lands on time.
Basem Othman, an official in the Agriculture Board of Aleppo northern countryside (Shahba Region), said on Saturday that the region suffers from the lack of agricultural materials, such as seeds, diesel, fertilizers, agricultural medicines, and fodder. This is caused by “the siege and the high prices of materials due to the exchange rate to the US dollar.”
Since August 2022, the Fourth Division of the government forces has prevented the entry of fuel, relief materials, and medicines into areas of the Shahba Region and into the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods in Aleppo city.
Othman told North Press that the siege has primarily affected diesel, “which leads to higher costs of agricultural production. And if secured, prices of vegetables, potatoes and onions would spike due to its high cost.”
Othman noted that the lack of these materials causes a shortage of irrigated lands which, in turn, affects labor and job opportunities and hinders self-sufficiency.
Despite the blockade, said the official, the local Agriculture Board does its best to address the situation. “Out of two barrels, one barrel of diesel was distributed per hectare for wheat.”
The main crops in the countryside of Aleppo are wheat, barley, vegetables of all kinds, legumes, potatoes, onions, olives, cumin, coriander, and pistachio.