New water exploitation strategies in the dry areas of Central Syria. Development potentials, environmental impacts and institutional constraints

Saadé Myriam, University of Lausanne

Since the mid 1990s, new developments have taken place in the dryer areas of Syria with the expansion of irrigated olive trees. These are well adapted to the soils and climate of the area and there is evidence of the presence of large olive orchards during the Byzantine period. Previous studies conducted in the study area indicate that olives provide, by far, the highest economic return per volume of irrigation water. While the production of irrigated wheat and cotton is restricted to specific areas, olives require light irrigation in summer and can be produced on marginal lands by a wide range of farmers including small farmers with land unsuitable for wheat or cotton and with no direct access to water. The latter can purchase water from well owners. Olive production could play a significant role in increasing the agricultural income in marginal areas. However, the expansion of olive trees raises the question of its sustainability in a water scarce region. Crops, including olives, are indeed irrigated from groundwater which is generally considered as overdrafted. Previous studies conducted in collaboration with the Hydrogeology Centre of the University of Neuchâtel indicate that overdrafting is limited to certain villages while in the majority of villages drafting amounts less than 10 % of the groundwater recharge. Nonetheless, groundwater remains a fragile resource. Olive growing is a mid-term investment and there is a clear need to secure the long term availability of groundwater. This is one major objective of the Aga Khan Foundation Rural Support Programme recently established in the Salamieh region where is located our study area.

The overall objective of the proposed project is to contribute to the definition of strategies aimed at improving the sustainability of groundwater use in the dry areas of central Syria and increasing agricultural income. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation Rural Support Programme which is the main recipient of the results of the research.

The project draws on the results of the previous « Arid Margins of the Fertile Crescent » research program conducted in the study area and will be based on an adaptation of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. Particular attention will be paid to the sustainability of the exploitation of natural resources, the links between the utilisation of resources and socio-economic development and the interrelations between stakeholders: local populations, political powers, administrations, international organisations, non governmental organisations.

The specific objectives of the project are:
• To analyse current water use practices, from an individual and collective point of view, in relation to the production and transformation of olives.
• To precisely define the socio-economic potential and environmental risks related to the production of olives. This requires an in-depth analysis of the natural media, especially the hydro geological system.
• To identify and analyse the strategies of the different actors involved in the use of groundwater and the constraints they are facing.

The results of the project will contribute to the definition of adequate criteria of natural resource management for olive-tree cultivation. Considering the rapid extension of olive production in the study area the project addressed a key issue with regard to the economic and social development of the area.

Saadé Myriam, University of Lausanne, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environment, CH-1015 Lausanne, T. + 41 21 692 30 76, F. + 41 21 692 30 75

Dr. Al Dbiyat Mohamed and Mr. Ali Zein,  Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Rural Support Program (RSP), PO Box 99, Salamieh, Syria, e-mail :akf-rd@mail-sy, T. 963 33 828 250

Olive harvesting in Central Syria

Absorbing well in the area of Salamieh