He added that there has been no rain, no irrigation canals, and the existing resources are too expensive. He pointed out that dams have no water, lands are neglected, and regime forces have damaged agricultural areas.
"Farmers have suffered huge losses. Rebuilding fertilizer, fuel, and irrigation infrastructure has become impossible. Due to drought, fields in the Yarmouk Basin cannot be cultivated," he said. Commenting on farmers' plight, Suwaydani noted, "Farmers are the weakest link."
Agricultural engineer Muhammad Hrayba from Dera Water Directorate stated, "Syria, especially the Horan region, has experienced severe drought. This year's rainfall barely reached a third of the average."
He said wheat production has "hit rock bottom," and that rain-fed fields have become almost completely unproductive. Vegetable cultivation is also discouraged due to very low water levels in the dams. Hrayba explained that most irrigation dams in Dera depend heavily on water from Quneitra, but these dams have fallen below critical levels.
Hrayba described the impact of drying wells on agriculture: "There is a major crisis with wells; 60-70% are out of service. Around 50% of agricultural land cannot be farmed. The Assad regime has turned large areas into military zones and mined them, making agriculture impossible. It will take many years to clear and restore these lands."
He emphasized that Israel blocks water flowing from occupied Quneitra and the Golan Heights into the Yarmouk Basin, deepening the crisis.
"Using vertical drilling machines, Israel draws underground water to its own territory," Hrayba said, adding that horizontal drilling accelerates this flow, causing a significant drop in water levels in the region.
He also said Israel prevents the opening of new wells along the border and targets well-drilling activities. Some fish farms have also been shut down after the Israeli occupation, further hurting agricultural and livestock production.
Hrayba said they advise farmers strategically: "Water security is more important than food security. That's why we recommend cultivating certain crops. Every drop of water must be conserved."
