Climate-Resilient farmer field schools revive agriculture in Eastern Ghouta

The Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic, has a distinguished reputation of being Damascus’ favorable food supply of quality fruit and vegetable. Thanks to its fertile soil and experienced farmers who have been relying on agriculture as their only source of income.

After the devastating war since 2011, farmers faced layers of challenges, the overreliance on irrigated agriculture and over pumping of ground water , damaged infrastructure, scarcity of natural resources and limited availability of quality inputs, the sharp decline of Barada river discharge to the area resulted from mismanagement of the river watershed and climate change impact of rain rates and drought-like conditions have intensified farmers’ struggles. Wells are drying up, soil fertility is declining, and farmers lack access to fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation tools. This led to a reduction in income rates for smallholder farmers.

Recognizing the urgent need to restore local food systems and strengthen climate resilience, FAO and its partners introduced the Climate-Resilient Farmer Field Schools (CRFFS) initiative in 2023, part of a joint project led by FAO, UNDP, and UN-Habitat, with financial support of the Adaptation Fund, in partnership with the Syrian Ministry of Local Administration and Environment (MoLAE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) and the Ministry of Water Resources. The FAO CRFFS aims to help smallholder farmers adapt to worsening climate conditions through a practical community-based learning platform.

Participatory Learning for a better production

FAO established 22 farmer field schools that focus on crop and livestock production in nine villages in Eastern Ghouta. Each school brought together small groups of farmers who met regularly in their own communities to learn, experiment, and adopt new climate-smart practices with the guidance of FAO’s accredited facilitators.

The topics were specifically designed to train farmers on Climate Smart Practices such as soil testing and compost tea preparation, intercropping and crop rotation to enhance soil fertility and biodiversity, mulching to reduce evaporation and conserve water, making alternative natural and environment friendly pest control using garlic, vinegar, and plant-based extracts, making organic fertilizer and composting techniques and livestock health management, including heat-resistant shelter design and disease prevention. Every session involved practical group-based experiments and participatory discussions that allowed farmers to adapt solutions to their specific needs and challenges.

The results were measurable and meaningful. In one field school, farmers experimented with intercropping eggplant and apricot trees. This practice brought good results as the yield increased from 2 760 kg to 3 120 kg per dunum, an increase rate of 11.5 percent.

The farmers also noticed in two different experemental fields (of about 8 square meters per field) that applying mulching and the use of natural pest control can lead to cost reduction of labour for weeding, irrigation and chemical inputs, saving a total of about 1.1 million SYP from both fields. 

Farmers applied soil testing, a critical tool that revealed severe nitrogen and potassium deficiencies. Farmers were then trained to produce and apply compost tea using plant residue and worms to moist soil and enhance its health, improve nutrient availability, promote beneficial microbial activity and harvest healthier plants.

Farmers also replaced costly and often unavailable chemical pesticides with natural alternatives made from locally available materials like garlic, ginger, and thyme. These homemade solutions have reduced expenses and preserved soil and water health—essential in areas where chemical inputs are both scarce and harmful.

Empowering women through climate-smart agriculture

The CRFFS in Zabdin, Rural Damascus, is a successful experience for 16 women from the local community. The women received training on good agriculture practices and climate smart practices. In a region where women’s access to agricultural resources and decision-making is often limited, this initiative empowered women by applying the adaptable techniques such as intercropping, mulching, and pest management, improving yields and saving costs.

The women celebrated their food products through promoting fresh jams, pickles, tomato paste and other delicious products at a local food market in Damascus city and to also promote their products through several channels increasing household income and building confidence as community leaders. 

At a community level, social cohesion has been strengthened through shared learning, group decision-making, and digital communication platforms like WhatsApp, where farmers continue to exchange knowledge and support.

The FAO CRFFS model introduces integrated low-input solutions that allow farmers to apply in fragile and conflict/climate-affected settings where infrastructure, funding, and governance are limited. The model enhances local knowledge, peer learning using simple tools that allow farmers become adaptable and resilient to any shocks.