Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Eqtsad)- The fighting between rebels and an ISIS-linked groups in the southern province of Daraa has affected farmers lives and made decline in the agricultural production, local activists said.
The clashes that erupted last month between the southern Front, Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham from one side, and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and Islamic Muthanna Movement on the other; have caused huge losses for farmers in the western region of Horan.
Some farmers mentioned that route disconnection between the Western countryside and other areas has stagnated the crop of marrow, peas, cucumber and beans, which farmers rely on to provide them with some fund. Farmers warned that keeping roads closed could lead to big losses in tomatoes crop that farmers started harvesting.
Abdullah, a farmer from the Western region confirmed that he had suffered a huge loss in marrow crop because he was not able to transport it to Damascus and other liberated areas in Daraa, due to closing road. “I had waited for hours hoping the road would have opened, but unfortunately, I needed to go back to my village and sell all the 3 Tonnes load of marrow for 20 S.P per kilogram while it is sold for 75 S.P in Damascus.
Hamza, a farmer from the same areas reported he had suffered of huge losses of cucumber crop when he was forced to sell one kilogram of the 2-tonnes- harvest for 100 S.P, while it is sold in Damascus for 250 S.P, all that because he was not able to transport the harvest after many hours of waiting to open the road.
Jihad had the same disaster, as he was force to sell his harvest of beans for less than half price after cutting the road between the Western region and other areas.
Farmers confirmed that if the road kept closed due to conflict, more losses will take place because the crop are fragile and get damaged in short time, therefore they need to be transported quickly. Farmers fear that they would be forced to leave farming in the following years because they would not be able to afford for the cost of planting and labour and renting the land.
Farmers appealed to the fighting battalions to allow them to leave the region with their harvest and open the road even for short time to allow them to sell some of their crops and regain some of the expenses they had paid.
The Western region of Horan is famous of its vegetable, especially tomatoes due to fertile land and plenty of water available from Abdin dam.
Western countryside of Daraa extends from Saham Golan town, 30 km to the west of Daraa, to Wadi Rakad, the natural barrier between Israel and Daraa, to Yarmouk valley, is witnessing beat and defeat battles for more than a month between Southern Front and the Free Syrian Army from one side , and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (Liwa Shuhada al-Yarmouk) and The Islamic Muthanna Movement (Harakat al-Muthanna al-Islamiya), the two armed formations which have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.Battles caused huge disruption for people’s life.
(Eqtsad)- The fighting between rebels and an ISIS-linked groups in the southern province of Daraa has affected farmers lives and made decline in the agricultural production, local activists said.
The clashes that erupted last month between the southern Front, Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham from one side, and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade and Islamic Muthanna Movement on the other; have caused huge losses for farmers in the western region of Horan.
Some farmers mentioned that route disconnection between the Western countryside and other areas has stagnated the crop of marrow, peas, cucumber and beans, which farmers rely on to provide them with some fund. Farmers warned that keeping roads closed could lead to big losses in tomatoes crop that farmers started harvesting.
Abdullah, a farmer from the Western region confirmed that he had suffered a huge loss in marrow crop because he was not able to transport it to Damascus and other liberated areas in Daraa, due to closing road. “I had waited for hours hoping the road would have opened, but unfortunately, I needed to go back to my village and sell all the 3 Tonnes load of marrow for 20 S.P per kilogram while it is sold for 75 S.P in Damascus.
Hamza, a farmer from the same areas reported he had suffered of huge losses of cucumber crop when he was forced to sell one kilogram of the 2-tonnes- harvest for 100 S.P, while it is sold in Damascus for 250 S.P, all that because he was not able to transport the harvest after many hours of waiting to open the road.
Jihad had the same disaster, as he was force to sell his harvest of beans for less than half price after cutting the road between the Western region and other areas.
Farmers confirmed that if the road kept closed due to conflict, more losses will take place because the crop are fragile and get damaged in short time, therefore they need to be transported quickly. Farmers fear that they would be forced to leave farming in the following years because they would not be able to afford for the cost of planting and labour and renting the land.
Farmers appealed to the fighting battalions to allow them to leave the region with their harvest and open the road even for short time to allow them to sell some of their crops and regain some of the expenses they had paid.
The Western region of Horan is famous of its vegetable, especially tomatoes due to fertile land and plenty of water available from Abdin dam.
Western countryside of Daraa extends from Saham Golan town, 30 km to the west of Daraa, to Wadi Rakad, the natural barrier between Israel and Daraa, to Yarmouk valley, is witnessing beat and defeat battles for more than a month between Southern Front and the Free Syrian Army from one side , and Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (Liwa Shuhada al-Yarmouk) and The Islamic Muthanna Movement (Harakat al-Muthanna al-Islamiya), the two armed formations which have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.Battles caused huge disruption for people’s life.
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