Ar-Raqqa – 27 July 2023 – The Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Syria, announced the successful completion and closure of their joint Agriculture project “Rehabilitation of the Pumping Station and Channels in Ar-Raqqa”. 

Under this project, a pumping station was fully rehabilitated along with 8.9km of the related irrigation and field channels, 13.9km of agricultural drains in six villages were cleaned, and 2.8km of a blocked rainfall watercourse was cleaned and reopened.

The rehabilitation of the pumping station and channels in Ar-Raqqa resulted in the increase in the availability of water for farmers, as well as the reactivation of 848 hectares (HA) of agricultural land and the improvement of the agricultural drainage system across 350 HA.

The project has contributed to improving the social and economic conditions of farmers within surrounding communities, attaining food security for those individuals as they increase their agricultural returns and secure job opportunities through the reactivation of land, and maintaining soil integrity, and preventing the spread of salinity.

UNDP Resident Representative in Syria, Mr Sudipto Mukerjee, highlighted the importance of UNDP’s partnership with the SRTF in creating income opportunities for farmers and contributing to food security in the targeted communities. “UNDP is proud to be part of this project, especially when we hear a farmer saying that he was unable to cultivate his 10 dunums of land for the past five years due to water shortages. We remain committed to such efforts that contribute to enhancing resilience, self-reliance and longer-term recovery for local communities,” he added.

The SRTF Director General, Eng. Hani Khabbaz, said: “Through our joint efforts with UNDP’s, we have brought hope and prosperity to Syrian communities, empowering them to achieve self-sufficiency. By enhancing the agriculture sector and unlocking the potential of our land, we have not only increased the availability of vital water resources but also rejuvenated 848 hectares of agricultural land. The SRTF will continue to work to make a profound impact, alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people and ushering in a future filled with promise."

With a budget of EUR 764,000, this project directly benefited 281 farmers as well as their 1,967 family members over a period of 12 months. Additionally, 18,621 individuals living in surrounding communities benefited from the reactivation of the agricultural land and improvement of the drainage system, enabling members of these communities to become self-sustainable in the long run.