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Close to the countryside by Hama, crop lands are expected to be ripe and full with harvest.

However, Maher Haddad's land sits unproductive, yielding merely a fraction of its normal harvest.

"The current season proved catastrophic because of the lack of rain," remarked the 46-year-old grower.

The land yielded merely 190kg per plot—significantly less than the typical amount seen in a average year.

"{We haven't recovered what we put in; we've lost money. It's impossible to finance next year's crops," he continued.

With two teenage daughters to provide for, the farmer is seeking money from relatives to survive.

Countrywide Emergency

This struggle is echoed throughout Syria, where the gravest dry period in over three decades has slashed wheat harvests by a significant portion.

A estimated wheat shortfall of millions of tonnes is expected this season—representing the yearly nutrition of over 16 million individuals.

Growing Need

Lacking additional assistance or the capacity to import supplies, the condition may deteriorate significantly.

More than millions of residents—around 60% the population—already find it hard to meet their nutritional needs.

Among them, over nine million experience serious hunger, including 1.3 million in dire situations.

Precipitation has dropped by almost 70%, crippling 75% of non-irrigated crops.

"This is the difference between families remaining in their homes or needing to leave," commented an official.

Daily Hardships

Rural communities are selling livestock to compensate for lost earnings, cutting back their food intake.

Undernourishment cases among young ones and women are increasing.

Grain is a essential commodity in Syria, essential for loaves and noodles—affordable necessities that are now becoming more expensive in cost.

For a widow aged 39, affording staples has become extremely challenging.

With six kids, she counts on her sons' salaries, which fall short of daily costs.

"At times we borrow funds simply to afford food," she said.

Earlier, a bag of bread was priced at 500 money, but now it is four thousand five hundred.

For her dependents, she needs two units a day—a financial burden of nine thousand pounds, not including other items.

Government and International Efforts

The crisis creates a significant problem for the government, which is working to rebuild the nation after over a decade of unrest.

Aid groups are providing financial help for those in need, but experts note that these are stopgap fixes.

"The goal is to enable farmers in the farming sector," said a official.

Financial payments have been provided to agricultural families who lost all of their harvest.

But, after over a decade of conflict, Syria's agricultural sector was already weakened by financial downturn, destroyed water systems, and unusable land.

Irrigation Shortage

In key agricultural regions, wheat fields must have several watering rounds per growing period, but due to absence of rain, most farmers find it impossible to manage.

"A farmer's first worry is finding resources," stated a regional official.

Water depends on diesel, and fuel prices have increased dramatically, reaching 11,000 to 12,000 pounds per gallon.

Soaring fuel prices and regular power cuts have rendered water pumps unaffordable for many farmers.

Sustainable Solutions

One focus for the government is funding irrigation infrastructure—such as renewable energy drip systems—to ensure resources more affordable.

But such projects take time and resources—options that agricultural workers cannot access currently.

So, for millions people throughout the nation, there is just one thing to do in the coming period: wait for rain.