Reporting by Shams ed-Din Matoun
(Eqtsad)- Idlib province is known for its agriculture; it is famous for rainfed crops that rely heavily on rainwater such as lentils, cumin, chickpeas, etc. but due to drought and lack of rainfall in recent years, irrigation has become a major problem facing farmers.
Mustafa, a farmer from Sarmin in rural Idlib, standing in front of his crop, which began to wilt, said, "I do not own a well for my crop, and I cannot afford it."
"Water irrigation costs 8 thousand Syrian pounds per hour and will not irrigate the land for less than several hours of watering," Mustafa said.
"I do not think I will make the money back, but I have to water so I do not lose everything," says Mirdafa.
Irrigation is very expensive. It needs fuel, a pump and long pipes that are enough for the size of the land and you need sprays. Mustafa explains, "I pay 8000 for every hour of irrigation.
Abu Abdo owns a well and water the crops and lands nearby. Abu Abdo told Eqtsad about the cost of the well, "It cost me to dig the well around 2000 to 2,500 US dollars."
He added, "The price of water pump is $ 2000 which equals the amount of about 2 million Syrian pounds."
The price of irrigation depends on the price of diesel, "when I get the diesel at a lower price, it lowers the price of irrigation," explains Abu Abdo.
Finally, the farmers hope that in the coming years they will be rewarded for their crops to return to their quality without excessive costs. They have no energy for the wrath of heaven with all the injustice they have endured for years.
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