Farmers' suffering continues ...costs exceeded 80% of total crops

AHMAD AL-KAMIAN- MUHAMMAD AL-AHMAD / GIRE SIPI

Farmers in al-Hiysha town in Ain Issa district of Girê Sipî canton, complain about the high costs of agricultural crops, which have exceeded 80% of the total amounts of their crops, especially in view of the impact of recent heavy rains on agriculture.

The agriculture lands which is irrigated from al-Balikh River in al-Hiysha town is about 2,000 acres, which the farmers rely on al-Balikh Rever by diesel engines, after the pump stopped working.

Al-Belikh River, which consists of the sewage of Turkey, meets the spring of Ain al-Arous in North Syria to form the 110-kilometer-long Balikh River, It passes through several villages and towns, including al-Hiysha town.

The high prices of fuel and plastic pipes used by farmers leads to transfer water to their land, which distance from the river for 2 km, for the reluctance of the majority of farmers from agriculture and leasing of their land to people who can invest these lands.

This led farmers to irrigate their lands from al-Balikh in the shadow of the Tel al-Saman pump stopped working for about a year and a half, which irrigates the village's land with water, forcing the farmers to irrigate their lands from al-Balikh River.

The pump watered 17,000 acres of the town's land, which was destroyed by a IS mercenaries during its takeover of the area, the pump stopped working; the farmers whose lands lie on the banks of the river were forced to irrigate it.

In an interview with ANHA, the farmer Ali al-Amej said, "I have 170 acres of wheat, barley, and lands two kilometers away from al-Balikh River, and the cost of my agriculture is very high, which is equivalent to 75 % of the crop, which does not cover the costs spent on it. 100 thousand pounds, the 75,000 pounds goes as an expense and remains 25,000 pounds to become a profit.

As for the farmer Amin al-Remo, pointed out that "since the irrigation water was cut off from the lifting station of Tel al-Samen, we suffer from scarcity of drinking water and irrigation, which led us to watering on al-Balikh River, despite the high costs incurred."

Farmers noted that the recent rainfall in the area does not benefit the plant because it has become mature; it harms the plant and does not benefit.

The farmers appealed to Agriculture Committee in the town and the concerned parties to support them to continue agriculture, which is the main source of livelihood for the people of the area.

"We cannot support the farmers because of their limited potential," said a member of the Agriculture Committee in al-Hiysha town Hamad Ismail, He called on the Agriculture Directorate of Girê Sipî canton to provide them with subsidies to meet the farmers' needs of fertilizers and fuel coupons.

(H/S)

ANHA