1. WLI 1st Regional Coordination Meeting (ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria, 13-15 February, 2011

2. Country Name
Syrian Arab Republic
(Site name: Orontes Basin in Syria )

3. The WLI Country Support Team
National Coordinator
Dr. Awadis Arslan
Bio-physical team
Eng. Nidal Joni
Dr. Boushra Khuzam
Eng. Hamsa Al-Khayer
Eng. Waseem Adleh
Mr. radwan Yousef
Dr. Moammar Dayoub
Eng. Mustafa Ibrahim
Mrs. Fatima Al-Ali
Socio-economic team)
Dr. Moammar Dayoub
Mr. Radwan Yousef
Dr. Boushra Khuzam
Eng. Waseem Adleh
Eng. Hamsa Al-Khayer
Eng. Mustafa Ibrahim
Mr. Rakan Kasem

4. Part II: Socio-economic Characterization
II.1 Livelihood assessment
Target local communities at the benchmark site
First: Ghab site
The population of Ghab is estimated to 500 thousand, Administratively, belongs to Hama province; the fourth largest Syrian province
Second: Homs site (Mukhtaria)
The population of Mukhtaria is estimated to 540 thousand, Administratively, belongs to Homs province; the third largest Syrian province.

5. The farm landholding In 1970 was 2.5 ha/household,
but today and after growing population this landholding has fragmented and distributed to four or five households, so the exploitable landholding area is currently ha/household.

6. Ghab site Mukhtaria site
The factors affecting population distribution are climate, topography, and water,
the population density rose from 82 capita/km2 in 1976 to 374 capita/km2 in 2008.
Mukhtaria site

7. Age composition of population Ghab and Mukhtaria society are young and classified as in the following table:
Site
Under 15M
Under 15 F
15 – 64 M 65
And
over
and
Ghab 38 37 58 59 4
Mukhtaria 57 5
Population under 15 years account for 38%
and those aged between15 – 64 amount to %
Population over 65 years only 4-5 %
Women constitute 50% of population.

8. Living standards and family size
The number of households is increasing and the family size is /6/ persons in two sites.
The father is the family breadwinner ,while the female breadwinners constitute only 10% of total households.
the landholding is distributed to sons, so that the household's land area decreases due to their large number and thus the farm revenue and household incomes also decrease.
Consequently, the people trend to raise domestic animals, look for governmental jobs, and improve and develop agriculture using modern techniques.

9. Education level
There are large portion of illiterate that reached up to 32% in Ghab Site, and 24% in Mukhtaria Site especially in women and those who are older than 65 years.
Site
School enrollment
Secondary (F)
Secondary (M
Illiteracy
(15 and over)
Illiteracy (F)
Illiteracy (M)
6–11 year
5–24 year
Ghab 98 61 63 80 22 32 13
Mukhtaria 99 62 70 83 16 24 8
The educatioal level in Ghab and neighboring areas is good …there are primary and secondary schools across villages and towns together with multi-disciplinary intermediate institutes, computer and language centers, faculties of dentistry and veterinary in Hama, in addition to higher education in all disciplines and master's degrees in other provinces

10. Major cultivations in both sites
The people grow most agricultural crops during two seasons (summer and winter) as per crop rotation.
The main crops are wheat, potato, cotton, sugar beet and olives.
There is a big portion of people who breed animals

11. Farm and off-farm activities
A large part of people work in agriculture; both plant and livestock, and others work in occupations and activities related to farm production and marketing as well as small enterprises.
In Ghab 48% works in Agriculture, 27 % in services.
In Mukhtaria 22% works in Agriculture, 21 % in services.
while the others work in telecommunication, transport, building, construction, tourism and real estate.
In addition, there are many industries such as (shoes – leather tanning, soap industry, Salhab sugar plant, cotton gins, and hadmade carpets) together with light industries that meet people's needs and provide job opportunities for people in Ghab and adjacent areas.

12. The percent of employment in site
In Ghab:. These percentages are covering all different sectors where 48% work in agriculture and forestry and 27% in services while the others work in telecommunication, transport, building, construction, tourism and real estate
In Mukhtaia: The percent employment is 53 organized,7% temporarily,14% seasonal and26% intermittent.
In Ghab: The percent employment is 35 organized, 5% temporarily, 31% seasonal and 29% intermittent.
In Mukhtaia: The percent employment is 53 organized,7% temporarily,14% seasonal and26% intermittent.

13. Farmers' participation/associations
Ghab region has a number of multi- purpose and specialized associations, totaled 61 associations in 1990,
It rose to 87 association with the increasing number of members from in 1990 to members.
Mukhtaria region has cooperative societies, either multi-purpose or specialized for sheeps or crops, covers all villages and communities.
The farmers' practices are monitored by the extension program to know the most modern technologies and the agricultural technical problems to be avoided and solved through seminars, field days and extended fields for the farmers.

14. Crop revenue
The price policy of agro-products has been characterized by central pricing of major products (wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, sugar beet and tobacco).
The price-setting is based upon the study of production costs according to specific typical criteria.
The profit margins are set according to crop significance and State's willingness to market.

15. Farmers' skills, awareness and attitudes
There are several farmers field schools (FFSs) under the supervision of supporting units.
Every year, field days and demonstrations are held. Exchange visits with other provincial FFSs are also made.
The farmers accept the ideas of the new projects due to their high social awareness and economic and cultural levels,
but they lack awareness of water and land management, and there is misuse of fertilizers and pesticides.

16. the most important practice on crops
practice farmers
Ghab %
Mukhtari a
modern irrigation methods 29 30
Soil analysis 25 17
construction of rainwater drainage in waterlogged lands 94 24
improve surface irrigation methods and laser land-leveling 22 3
The introduction of modern irrigation methods is the most important practice of farmers on wheat at 29% in Ghab and 30% in Mukhtaria.
Soil analysis to know soil content from nutrients has formed 25% in Ghab and only 17% in Mukhtaria.
The construction of rainwater drainage in waterlogged lands formed 94% of Ghab's farmers due to the high intensity of rain versus 24% in Mukhtaria.
The application of improved surface irrigation methods and laser land-leveling formed 22% in Ghab and 3% in Mukhtaria.
In general, there is acceptability of the introduction of modern technologies, especially those that contribute to reducing costs and conserving water resources because water scarcity is clearly noticeable.

17. Gender-related data
Gender-related data for the two sites is very similar because of the common farm activities, social homogeneity and women's role in the Orontes basin.
The educational status of agricultural employment in the rural areas shows that
(53 %) totally illiterate
(25 %) just literate
(17 %) have primary education
(3.5 %) have preparatory education,
less than(1 %) have secondary education,
The landholders are divided by gender as follows: 95% males and 5% females. The tenants who don't own lands constitute 7% of total owners, and they are divided by gender into 93% males and 7% females.

18. The gender distribution of employment in agriculture indicates that:
The women are fully responsible for raising animals and poultry excluding grazing which is undertaken by males (37.5%).
females are engaged in all stages and their major involvement is in weeding and crop harvest (these two functions require a lot of patience and endurance).
while females are absent in marketing (0.5%) In addition, the females are responsible for most household works.

19. Control of resources
The women who own assets and resources are not more than 5%, while the male main owners of lands 95% and
Moreover, the males own 97, % of sheep, cattle and goats respectively, versus 3% for females.
the unemployment rate of females was 23.9% of total female workforce in 2000, and increased to reach 24.1 in 2004
total unemployment rate was 11.7% in 2004

20. II.2 Livestock characterization
Average ownership of cows is estimated to head and sheep head.
Ghab is one of the important areas in Syria in terms of livestock breeding.
such as cows, sheep, goats, buffaloes, poultry and fishery across 154 villages and farms. About households live on the breeding of domestic animals, along with other professions.

21. Animal feeding depend upon agricultural crop residues in the region and supply of fodder concentrates from the General Establishment of Fodder. The largest part of fodder is supplied by the private sector, and has fluctuant and unstable prices causing losses to the breeder especially in small-scale landholdings.

22. fishery
Ghab region is one of the environmentally appropriate regions for fish breeding, and produces 69% of country production of freshwater fish i.e. about 6000 ton/year and this quantity can be increased by giving special attention to this sector.

23. Syrian Arab Republic
Awadis Arslan

24. The WLI Country Support Team
Socio-Economic Team
Dr. Mouammar Dayoub
Mr. Radwan Yousef
Dr. Boushra Khuzam
Eng. Waseem Adleh
Eng. Hamsa Al-Khayer
Eng. Mustafa Ibrahim
Mr. Rakan Kasem
Bio-Physical Team
Dr. Awadis Arslan
Eng. Nidal Joni
Dr. Boushra Khuzam
Eng. Hamsa Al-Khayer
Eng. Waseem Adleh
Mr. radwan Yousef
Dr. Mouammar Dayoub
Eng. Mustafa Ibrahim
Mrs. Fatima Al-Ali

25. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

26. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

27. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

28. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

29. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

30. Part I: Bio-physical characterization Source: Climatic Atlas of SAR

31. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
Shatha
Kreem
Skelbiaبية
Julme
Mhardeh
Mediterranean Sea
Latakia
Direction of rainfall reduction

32. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

33. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

34. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

35. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

36. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

37. Part I: Bio-physical characterization

38. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
Soil chemical properties of Al Mukhtaria site – Homs, Syria P K
C/N C N OM
CaCo3 EC
dS/m pH
Depth
mg/Kg % 51
677
6.1
1.15
0.19
1.98
12.8
1.34
7.64
0-15 42
486
5.6 1
0.18
1.72
13.2
1.29
7.69
15-30 37
351
5.8
0.82
0.16
1.59
13.6
7.7
45-30 34
227
5.9
0.88
0.15
1.52
14.5
1.41
7.73
60-45 24
0.84
1.45 15
1.51
7.76
75-60 18
220
0.81
0.14
1.39
16.3
1.21
7.77
90-75
203
18.5
1.1
7.8
105-90

39. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
Soil physical properties of Al Mukhtaria site – Homs, Syria
Dept h Cm ρb ρp
Poros ity %
Field capacity
Wilting point
Aeration
Sand
Silt
Clay Өw Өv 60 70 80
100
15-0
1.22
2.65
54.00
33.00
40.30
17.50
21.40
29.80
25.80
21.80
13.70
26.00
18.00
56.00
30-15
1.07
2.67
60.00
30.70
32.80
16.40
37.00
33.80
27.20
30.00
20.00
50.00
45-30
1.10
2.70
59.00
30.20
33.20
16.10
17.70
39.10
35.30
32.40
28.00
14.00
58.00
60-45
1.13
2.68
30.90
34.90
16.50
18.60
37.10
33.60
30.10
23.10
75-60
2.69
30.80
33.90
38.70
31.90
25.10
90-75
1.17
2.71
57.00
32.90
38.50
20.50
26.20
18.50
12.00
64.00
1.14
36.90
17.20
19.60
35.90
32.20
28.50
21.10
62.00

40. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
Land distribution in AlGab basin

41. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
The properties of AlGab station soil
Depth OM
Mineral N
Av. P
Av. K
ECe
Sand
Silt cm %
mg/Kg
dS/m
0-30
2.1
5.3
22.3
210
0.25 46 10
30-60
1.85
3.8
20.7
189
0.27 48

42. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
Discharges of Al Ghab eastern springs:

43. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
The discharge rate of the Eastern sprigs and their relation to autumn precipitation

44. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
The discharge rate of the Eastern sprigs and their relation to autumn precipitation

45. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
The discharge rate of the Eastern sprigs and their relation to winter precipitation

46. Part I: Bio-physical characterization
The discharge rate of the Western sprigs and their relation to Autumn precipitation

47. Part I: Bio-physical characterization Source : UNDP/DESA/MoI Project: SYR/98/008

48. Part I: Bio-physical characterization I
Part I: Bio-physical characterization I.2 Agro-ecosystem characterization

49. Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site III.1 Main problems and challenges facing farmers at the site/region level
Production:
Reduction in intensified cropped areas
Inadequate application of fertilizers
High percentage of cereals in the crop rotation legume varieties, adversely affecting soil fertility and weed outbreak.
Water:
Limited access to surface water
Lack of storage
Soil:
Insufficient specialized laboratories of soil/ plant.
Reduction in soil fertility and salinization
Livestock:
Lack of integrated plant-livestock production system

50. Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site III.1 Main problems and challenges facing farmers at the site/region level
Marketing:
Difficulties in marketing agro-products, especially vegetables and fruits.
Organization:
Fragmentation
Agricultural extension weakness in technologi transferring
Financing:
Poor investment of the private sectors in the agricultur
Low agricultural crediting as compared with other national economic sectors, I

51. Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site III.2 Promising techniques to improve livelihoods
Application and optimal conservation of integrated water management
Introducing modern irrigation and water harvesting techniques
Establishing water users associations.
Introduction of high-yielding improved varieties.
Introduction of new cropping patterns
Promotion of marketing associations and creation of added-value on agro-products.

52. Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site
III.2 Promising techniques to improve livelihoods (water/soil/crop/social)
quote here the promising techniques in bullets

53. Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site
III.3 Indicators to evaluate the performance of human development at the benchmark site
literacy among adults:
Per capita share of gross domestic product (GDP):
Off-farm wage of females as compared to that of males:
Percent population who don't use safe water sources:
Illiteracy rate among adults:
Population with income/expenditure less than one or two US$ capita/day:
Sex ratio:
Average population density in culltivated lands:
Urban population of the total population:
Net rate of internal migration:
Drop-out rate from primary schooling:
Average number of students per class (primary schooling – stage I):
Children mortality rate under five years:
Unemployment rate:
Sustainable development indicators

54. Level Proposed Indicator
Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site III.4 Feed-the-Future (FTF) development indicators
Level
Proposed Indicator
Goal: Sustainably Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger
Key Objective: Inclusive agriculture sector growth
Percent growth in agricultural GDP**
Expenditures of rural households (proxy for income) **
Gender perceptions index**
IR 1: Improved Agricultural Productivity
Gross margin per unit of land or animal of selected product (crops/animals selected varies by country)**
IR 1.2: Enhanced Technology Development, Dissemination, Management and Innovation
Number of additional hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance**
Number of new technologies or management practices made available for transfer as a result of USG assistance
Number of farmers, processors, and others who have adopted new technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance**
Number of rural households benefiting directly from USG interventions
Number of new technologies or management practices under research as a result of USG assistance
Number of new technologies or management practices under field testing as a result of USG assistance

55. Level Proposed Indicator
Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site III.4 Feed-the-Future (FTF) development indicators
Level
Proposed Indicator
IR 1.4: Enhanced institutional capacity development for increased ag. sector productivity
Number of institutions/organizations undertaking capacity/competency strengthening as a result of USG assistance
Number of crop reports released by Ministry of Agriculture for public consumption based on GIS mapping and analysis
IR 1.5: Agricultural producer organizations strengthened
Number of producers organizations, water users associations, trade and business associations, and community-based organiza­tions (CBOs) receiving USG assistance**
Number of members of producer organizations and community based organizations receiving USG assistance
Number of producers org’s, water user assoc’s, trade and business assoc’s and community-based org’s who have adopted new tech’s or mgt practices as a result of USG assistance**
IR 2: Expanding Markets and Trade
Percent change in value of intra-regional exports of targeted agricultural commodities as a result of USG assistance**
Value of incremental sales (collected at farm/firm level) attributed to FTF implementation**
Number of hectares of farmland registered in the name of the user**

56. Level Proposed Indicator
Part III: weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural livelihoods at the benchmark site III.4 Feed-the-Future (FTF) development indicators
Level
Proposed Indicator
IR 2.6: Improved Post-harvest market information
Post harvest losses as a % of overall harvest
Kilometers of feeder roads improved or constructed**
IR 2.7: Improved access to business development and sound and affordable financial and risk management services
Value of Agricultural and Rural Loans made to MSMEs**
Number of MSMEs receiving USG assistance to access bank loans or private equity
Number MSMEs receiving business development services from USG assisted sources
IR 3: Increased private sector investment in agriculture and nutrition related activities
Value of new private sector investment in the agriculture sector or food chain leveraged by FTF implementation.**
Number of public-private partnerships formed as a result of USG assistance
IR 4: Increased agriculture value-chain productivity leading to greater on and off-farm jobs
Number of jobs attributed to FTF implementation**
IR 6: Improved access to diverse and quality foods
Percent of children 6-23 months that received a Minimum Acceptable Diet**
Number of USG social assistance beneficiaries participating in productive safety nets

57. List of potential stakeholders at the benchmark site (including also NGOs)
Local community.
General Commission for Ghab Exploitation and Development
Ministry of Agriculture - Directorate of Agricultural extension
Ministry of Agriculture – Directorate of Conversion into Modern Irrigation
Private Organizations and Investors
Popular Organizations (Farmers Union)
NGOs
Ministry of Economy – Agricultural Cooperative Bank;; one of the institutions participating in the region development
Ministry of Higher education

58. Thank you