Farmers in the Tel Barak countryside, located in the Jazira canton, are facing one of the most difficult agricultural seasons in recent memory. Unusually low rainfall and frequent dust storms and fog have devastated their wheat and barley crops, the region's traditional staples. As a result, many farmers are now turning to summer vegetables as a means of self-sufficiency and an emerging source of income and food security.
The summer vegetable growing season typically begins in February. Seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers are cultivated in greenhouses for more than two months before being transplanted into open soil. This year, the need to adapt has turned greenhouse cultivation from an optional practice into a necessary economic strategy.
Farmer Amin Al-Mukhlef, one of the early adopters of this shift, shared his experience:
"We suffered major losses this season due to the drought, so we focused on vegetable production in greenhouses. We gave them a lot of attention and care, hoping they would become a successful and marketable alternative."
Growing vegetables in greenhouses is not without challenges. The process demands significant investment and daily labor. For every acre of tomato crops, for example, a farmer needs 4,000 to 5,000 seedlings, 150 kilograms of iron for support arches, 60 to 70 kilograms of plastic for greenhouse covering, suitable soil, drip irrigation systems, and special pesticides. These requirements raise the overall cost and make the practice difficult without institutional support.
Adding to the difficulty is the sharp increase in prices for key agricultural materials. Al-Mukhlef explained:
"The costs of iron, plastic, and ready soil mixes have all gone up. We're investing in these greenhouses, hoping to make a profit in the local market, but it's risky. Strong winds or sudden frosts could wipe everything out if the crops aren't protected properly."
Al-Mukhlef and other local farmers are calling on agricultural institutions and authorities to provide both technical and financial assistance. He emphasized the importance of greenhouse farming as a long-term strategy in light of ongoing climate instability.
"We need help, through loans, subsidies, or material support. These greenhouse projects can help revive the rural economy and reduce our dependence on imported vegetables."
Source: hawarnews.com