FAO: Conflicts impose $16 billion losses to Syria agriculture

Despite six years of crisis in Syria, agriculture remains a key part of the economy.

The sector still accounts for an estimated 26 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and represents a critical safety net for the 6.7 million Syrians – including those internally displaced - who still remain in rural areas.

However, agriculture and the livelihoods that depend on it have suffered massive loss. Today, food production is at a record low and around half of the population remaining in Syria are unable to meet their daily food needs. Against this background, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has conducted the first comprehensive nationwide assessment on the cost of the war to the agricultural sector.
For the assessment more than 3,500 households have been interviewed among over 380 communities to establish the impact and get a clearer understanding of the type of support required to kick-start the recovery.

The findings revealed that USD 16 billion has been lost in terms of production, along with damaged and destroyed assets and infrastructure within the agriculture sector. The assessment also estimates that, depending on the scenario, between USD 11 to 17 billion would be required to kick-start the recovery of the agricultural sector.

Even though the crisis is not over, the conditions for investing in the recovery of the sector are present in many areas of the country. Such investment will not only reduce the need for humanitarian assistance but also stem migration and encourage the return of migrants.  

EA