Reviving agriculture in Eastern Ghouta

11/05/2026

Eastern Ghouta, once known as the “food basket” of Damascus, long supported local communities through its rich agricultural production, providing around 60 percent of fruit trees and 40 percent of vegetables before the crisis. Over the past decade, this landscape has been severely transformed.

Climate change has brought prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall, including a 54 percent drop in precipitation during the 2024–2025 season, the worst in forty years. At the same time, the Syrian crisis has damaged infrastructure, displaced communities and weakened essential services. Water sources have become scarce and polluted, soils degraded, and farming increasingly difficult.

Across Syria, crop yields have declined sharply. In Eastern Ghouta, where agriculture once accounted for up to 90 percent of household income, many families have struggled to cope. Some resorted to unsustainable practices, while others abandoned their land. Restoring agriculture has therefore become essential to protect livelihoods and support recovery.

A joint effort to restore resilience

In response to these challenges, a multi-partner initiative titled Increasing the climate change resilience of communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to water scarcity challenges through integrated natural resource management and immediate adaptation interventions was launched in October 2021. Funded by the Adaptation Fund through UN-Habitat, the USD 10 million project brought together UN agencies and national partners for a coordinated, practical response.

The project integrated three complementary components. While UN-Habitat and UNDP addressed integrated natural resource management and climate-resilient water supply systems for urban and agricultural use, FAO led Component 3, working directly with farmers to restore livelihoods through climate-smart agriculture, improved water use, and diversified income opportunities.

The project was implemented across the Mleiha, Zebdine, Deir El Assafir and Marj Al Sultan municipalities and their affiliated communities, reaching 30 940 people, including 30 percent women and youth, while indirectly benefiting around 145 000 others.

Transforming practices and restoring productivity

FAO worked directly with farmers to strengthen their ability to adapt and sustain production despite growing environmental and economic pressures. To address water scarcity, modern irrigation technologies and renewable energy solutions were introduced, including a rehabilitated groundwater well with solar-powered pumps benefiting eight farmers. In total, 400 irrigation systems improved water efficiency across 90 hectares. Additionally, repaired tractors and laser levelling machines enabled 200 hectares to be levelled, reducing water loss, alongside the promotion of raised bed cultivation.

To support improved water management, monitoring systems including a climate station, stream gauge, and groundwater tracking network were installed. At the same time, 138 technicians, 30 percent of them women, were trained to operate and maintain these systems, strengthening local technical capacity.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) was central to the intervention. Through Farmer Field Schools (FFS), 514 farmers and technicians adopted practices such as crop rotation, improved soil management, drought-tolerant crops, and measures to address heat waves and climate-related livestock diseases, benefiting 2 600 households. A capitalization workshop identified the most widely adopted practices, which were then scaled up by training an additional 390 farmers and livestock keepers and providing them with essential inputs.

A rehabilitated nursery in Kharabou now produces around 13 000 resilient saplings annually. Combined with the distribution of 56 000 fruit trees to 700 farmers, this effort is supporting orchard restoration and strengthening long-term livelihoods.

Empowering communities and women

People were at the centre of the project’s approach and women represented 30 percent of beneficiaries, actively engaging in training, decision-making and community initiatives. 900 households were trained in crop residue management, transforming agricultural waste into compost and livestock feed. This reduced harmful burning practices while creating practical income opportunities.

Women’s empowerment was a key outcome. Seventy women received training in agribusiness skills, and 12 were supported with grants to start small enterprises, including food processing and sustainable farming activities, helping boost household income and resilience.

Rima Al Saleh, a farmer and main breadwinner for her family, joined a climate-resilient FFS in 2023, where she gained skills in composting, organic pesticide production and climate-smart farming. She applied these practices to improve crop productivity and later established a small micro-business producing traditional Syrian foods such as pickles and jams. She now works with her family to cultivate chemical-free fruits and vegetables and has become a local trainer, sharing sustainable farming knowledge with other women.

In parallel, Water User Associations were established to manage irrigation systems. By placing responsibility with local communities, these groups promote equitable water access and support the long-term sustainability of project results.

Delivering results in a time of crisis

Despite severe drought in 2024–2025 and ongoing economic pressures, farmers in Eastern Ghouta began to see results. Fields once affected by water shortages were managed more efficiently, leading to more stable and reliable harvests.

More than 2 600 households adopted climate-smart practices, while 900 diversified their income sources. In parallel, over 138 technicians were trained to operate and maintain water-saving technologies. Solar-powered irrigation proved particularly effective, allowing farms to continue operating despite frequent power cuts and rising fuel costs.

The impact extended beyond numbers. With input costs reduced by up to 60 percent in some cases, farmers were able to reinvest in their land. An external evaluation confirmed that many of these practices are likely to be sustained over time.

Scaling forward

Knowledge sharing was central to the project’s impact. Early studies and technical assessments ensured interventions responded to local needs, while workshops enabled farmers, institutions and partners to exchange practical solutions and lessons learned.

When the project ended in September 2025, results extended beyond the field. Systems and responsibilities were handed over to national institutions and Water User Associations, ensuring continuity. Lessons from Eastern Ghouta are now informing FAO’s broader recovery efforts across Syria. Despite ongoing challenges, the approach shows that with the right tools and knowledge, communities can adapt, rebuild and move forward with greater confidence.