[SYR] SYRIA

As shown on the phenology graph, the main crops in Syria grown during this period were wheat and barley. Sowing of these crops started in October. The proportion of cropland (rain-fed and irrigated) in Syria is about 32.8% and regular rainfall is crucial for crop growth because of most of the cropland in Syria is rain-fed.

Compared to the 15-year average, accumulated rainfall was less than average (ΔRAIN -12%) and radiation was above average (ΔRADPAR +2%). The temperature was above average (ΔTEMP +2.1°C). The average temperature value for the reporting period was 13.2°C. According to the NDVI profiles, the national average NDVI values were above the 5YA except for late April, when values fell significantly due to high temperatures and lack of rain, which can affect crop yields. The national average VCIx was 0.79 and CALF was 72% (ΔCALF +29%). The CPI indicator value was 1.22. In general, the slight precipitation deficit and the increase of temperature did not affect the average crop growth index during the monitoring period, and the crop growth conditions were generally above the 5YA.

Regional analysis:

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions, five sub-national agro-ecological regions can be distinguished for Syria, among which five are relevant for crop cultivation: The first (a) (220) and first (b) region (221), the second region (222), the third (223) and the fourth region (219).

In the first region (a, b), the accumulated precipitation was less than average, and the temperature was above average in both (a, b) regions. The RADPAR was above average. The weather conditions resulted in avereage BIOMSS, while the VCIx values ranged from 0.8 to 0.9 for the two regions. CALF was above the 5YA:  for the a) region, it was above its 5YA by 3% and for the (b) region it was up by 11%. According to NDVI profiles of the b region, crop conditions were above the 5YA from January to early April.

The table related to the indicator CPI also shows that its values for both the first (a) and first (b) regions in the current monitoring period were greater than 1, being 1.04 and 1.10 respectively, which indicates that conditions  were slightly above average.

Agro-climatic conditions in the second, third and fourth regions were below the 5YA. The rainfall was below average by more than 9%, whereas the temperatures were above average, RADPAR was above average. Due to the rainfall deficit, potential biomass decreased by 1 to 6% in the third and fourth regions but for the second region, the biomass increased by 6%. However, the CALF values in the three regions increased by more than 37%. The average VCIx values in the second region, the third region and the fourth region were 0.87, 0.79 and 0.67 According to NDVI profiles of the three regions, crop conditions were above the 5YA  except for April.

As a result of the above indicator values, the CPI indicator values for the regions 2, 3 and 4 were 1.48, 1.28, 1.14 respectively. All in all, crop conditions were above the average of the last 5 years.

Figure 1. Syria’s crop condition, Jan - Apr 2024

(a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Rainfall profiles

(e) Temperature profiles

(f) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                                  (g) NDVI profiles 

(h)CPI

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (The first (a) region)

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (The first (a) region)

(k) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (The first (b) region)

(l) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (The second region)

(m) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (The third region)

(n) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (The fourth region)

(0) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Badia region)

Table 1. Syria agro climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from Jan - Apr 2024

Table 2. Syria, agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, Jan - Apr 2024