Agriculture Support to Farmers in Northern Aleppo

Prior to the conflict under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Syrian Government, the General Organization for Seed Multiplication (GOSM) used to provide farmers with various support, such as, seeds of grains, legumes, and vegetables that were of good quality and disease-free. GOSM also used to sell farmers clean and treated seeds at subsidized prices as part of a government plan and carry out agricultural soil analysis, in order to recommend the appropriate soil nutrients required for improved crop productivity in terms of quality and quantity. However, since 2012 and thereafter, the Syrian regime stopped the provision of agricultural inputs including quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural machinery to these areas. Moreover, assaults on the infrastructure left the agricultural sector including laboratories, research centers, and agricultural centers and offices in very bad shape or completely destroyed. The aggravation of the conflict over the past years has led to many problems.

In response to the challenges imposed on the agriculture sector, the project "Agricultural Support to Farmers in Northern Aleppo" provides agricultural inputs to farmers selected by the IE which will include seeds, agrochemicals, fertilizers, and agriculture machinery. Specifically, the project aims to achieve the following objectives:

Provide a supply of selected agricultural inputs for integrated crop production.
Rehabilitation of essential infrastructure to improve the storage of crops and minimize post-harvest losses.
Contribute to the re-organization and capacity of extension services’ teams of the IE and as a result, achieve improved advisory services to Farmers in field crop production.

As an entry point to support the recovery of crop production in the selected areas, the project will focus on crops having a “comparative advantage” to existing physical and natural resources, linked also to their contribution to food security. In consultation with the IE a “crop rotation system” shall be introduced to cover two seasons of the agricultural cycle in order to multiply the benefits of existing resources and enhance complementation of selected cropping patterns. Selection of cereals (wheat and barley) as winter season crops and legume crops (lentils and chickpeas) for summer season crops will be ideal for this initial phase.

Main project activities will involve the provision of agricultural inputs, mainly:

Provision of seeds needed to plant up to 5,000 hectares of arable land during the earmarked seasonal production cycle in selected areas and agreed by the IE to include a supply of varieties of wheat, barley, lentils, and chickpeas seed.
Supply of up to 2000 MT of chemical fertilizers (compound NPK, DAP types) required for the crop production in the selected locations. Also, a supply of portable soil testing kits for IE extension services staff.
Supply of agrochemicals for pest and weed control and crop protection: (i.e. herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides).
Provision of inputs needed for safe storage and handling of crops (i.e. hessian sacks, polypropylene sacks, plastic sheets, etc.)
Supply of agricultural machinery required for land preparation, seed planting, harvesting, and hay baling; (3 Tractors (75-85 HP), and 3 sets of agricultural implements).
Rehabilitation of essential infrastructure for safe storage of crops and inputs and extension services centers existing within the project locations; includes civil works and electromechanical inputs (electricity, water supply, etc.).Introduce and implement capacity building training for extension services staff of IE focusing on TOT content.
Provide funding through force account to cover the cost of involved IE employees for a period of one year.
Provide funding for logistical and administrative support, required consultancies.
Plan and introduce training for enhancing the IE internal capacity in terms of bookkeeping, filing, and other managerial and financial related services.

At a total budget of EUR 2.4 million and expected duration of 18 months (covering two agricultural seasons 2019-2020 winter and summer), the project aims to achieve the following: 1,500 self-managed, economically viable crop farms are established with access to the local market, networked and linked with suppliers and relevant business service providers; at least 7,500 households reached out with improved access to agricultural inputs and benefits from the project; at least 37,500 indirect beneficiaries shall benefit from the project; at least 500 persons are trained in efficient field crop production practices and financial management of field operations; and at least 30 extension workers are trained and equipped with the necessary expertise, experience, and resources to provide extension services in the project areas.

For further information on the project, please see:

SRTF Agriculture Projects Reap a Bountiful Potato Harvest in Northern Aleppo

An SRTF Agriculture Project Successfully Concludes its Activities Benefiting Over 8,400 Farmers in Northern Aleppo

An Abundant Onion Harvest Season by SRTF-Supported Farmers in Northern Aleppo

The SRTF- Supported Farmers Reap an Abundant Potato Harvest in Aleppo this Season

An Agriculture Project in Northern Aleppo Concludes Civil and Renovation Works at Two Sites

The SRTF-Supported Farmers Plant Onions and Potatoes During the Planting Season

The SRTF Delivers a Variety of Onion Seeds and Potato Tubers to its Agriculture Project in Northern Aleppo

An SRTF Agriculture Project Receives Two Electrical Generators

The SRTF Delivers Safety Work Clothes to its Agriculture Project in the North of Aleppo Governorate

Soil Testing Kits Delivered in Northern Aleppo to Ensure a Successful Agriculture Season

First Shipment of Compound Fertilizer Delivered to Northern Aleppo