In the village of Golaib Al-Oujail, in Ar-Raqqa’s countryside, Ghanim, a 59-year-old farmer, has spent his entire life cultivating barley, tending his olive trees, and raising livestock. With six daughters and three sons, farming is not just his livelihood, it’s his only source of income with the entire family dependent on it for their survival.
But in recent years, survival has become an uphill struggle.
“We don’t have access to water, so we rely on rain-fed landsGhanim
In 2019, sufficient rainfall allowed Ghanim to cultivate 70 acres of barley, resulting in a good harvest. However, in 2020, rainfall decreased, preventing his crops from fully maturing and forcing him to use the stunted growth as livestock feed instead of selling it. The following years 2021, 2022, and 2023 were even worse. With minimal rainfall, his land turned barren, and livestock feed became scarce, leaving him with no choice but to sell many of his sheep just to cover his losses. As more struggling farmers were forced to sell their livestock, meat prices plummeted, deepening his financial hardship.
Before, we used to make a good profit. Now, I find myself in debtGhanim
Ghanim and other farmers have tried various solutions to cope with the worsening water crisis. They experimented with crop diversification, planting 100 acres of cumin, a drought-resistant crop, but the combination of low rainfall and unsuitable soil led to failure. In search of alternative water sources, they have also dug multiple wells, reaching depths of 200 meters, yet found no water. Some farmers resorted to water trucking, purchasing water from private suppliers, but the costs proved too high for most. And while, other neighbouring villages have received some support and have benefiting from greenhouses that allowed controlled crop growth, livestock (cows) to diversify income, and irrigation solutions that provided stable water access, farmers like Ghanim remain trapped in uncertainty and poverty.
Farmers with vehicles can travel to other areas to fill their water tanks, but for those of us without, it’s impossibleGhanim
The Need: Sustainable Water Solutions
When DCA asked how stable water access would affect his livelihood, Ghanim’s response was clear:
I could irrigate my land, ensuring a stable harvest. My livestock would have enough drinking water. I could even grow vegetables and reduce my running costs. Water would mean prosperityGhanim
For farmers like Ghanim, water scarcity is not just an inconvenience, it’s the difference between survival and collapse. Without intervention, the cycle of crop failure, livestock loss, and debt will increase. Ghanim recommends:
- Irrigation infrastructure to make farming sustainable.
- Affordable water solutions to reduce dependency on costly private suppliers.
- Drought-resistant crop programs tailored to the region’s soil and climate.
With the right support, farmers like Ghanim can rebuild their livelihoods, ensuring food security and economic stability for their families while nationally will contribute to domestic food security and alleviate poverty and build future resilience to climate change.