4 years of drought.... Deir ez-Zor lands prosperous again

HAMAD AL_MUSTAFA –FADIA AL-FAROUK/DEIR-EZ_ZOR

After the liberation of the region, thousands of displaced persons returned to their villages. Deir ez-Zor Civil Council provided basic services and assistance despite lack of possibilities. Most humanitarian organizations do not move till now to help agricultural production in order to support and revive the agricultural sector and increase farmers' production and income.

After the liberation, there was a gradual return of 60% to 70% of the population return to their activity, especially in the agricultural sector, in coordination with the agricultural associations in order to secure the basic requirements for agriculture through Agriculture Committee and Reproduction, where 17 agricultural associations were rehabilitated and repaired to assist the farmers and support them from all the basic requirements

In light of the darkness of Deir-ez-Zor areas, where the percentage of cultivated lands does not exceed 10%, which is caused by the high prices of diesel and semi-absence of spare parts for agricultural engines, and cutting roads and taxes’ increase on cultivated land, besides the difficulty in marketing, sometimes forcing the farmer to leave his land barn (non-cultivation) to be planted and facing a number of problems, all of which led to the decline and deterioration of agricultural crops

Crops grown in the area

The majority of the inhabitants of the Deir-ez-Zor countryside depend on agriculture, which is distinguished by fertile soil. The area includes wheat, barley, sesame, cotton, sugar beet and yellow maize, as well as all summer vegetables.

Difficulties currently present

Farmers during interviews with Hawar news agency(ANHA) in the region explained their concern about the lack of pesticides, if they are found in the black market, they are either expensive or expired, which does not help in eradicating insect pests.

Farmer Zakaria al-Assaf from the village of al-Sawa in the western countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, said: "There is a remarkable development after the liberation of the area , agriculture was very bad after the past black era, confirming the expansion of the land that has been rehabilitated and began to raise its goods."

The Co-chair of Agriculture Committee Agricultural Engineer Sherine Masoud, said, "The situation of agriculture was very deteriorated, as the cultivated areas were not more than 10% for several reasons. The farmer is currently providing the agricultural production requirements. The Agriculture Committee has rehabilitated 17 agricultural associations that contributed to the development of agriculture, and 40 tons of fertilizers were saved by a price difference from the market. "

(T/S)

ANHA