Before the Syrian civil war, 40% of Syria’s total wheat production came from Hasakah governate. Throughout the Syrian civil war, this area changed hands many times. Part of the governate is currently in hands of the PYD/PKK administration, other part of the governate is in hands of the Turkey-backed rebel opposition.
Estimates show 440,000 hectares of fertile farmland are going unplanted as a result of Turkey’s 2019 invasion of North and East Syria. In the last years – under PYD/PKK control – only 30% of the earlier production was realised.
The resultant loss of 763,000 tons of wheat, the local staple, will endanger food security for many local communities and Syria as a whole.
North Syria’s farmland remains unplanted
