Syrian drought puts Assad's 'year of wheat' in peril

Farmer Imad al-Sayyed harvests wheat in a field in Deir Khabieh, Damascus suburbs, Syria June 17, 2021. Picture taken June 17, 2021. REUTERS/Yamam al Shaar

AMMAN (Reuters) - The "year of wheat" campaign pushed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in jeopardy after low rainfall risked leaving an import gap of at least 1.5 million tonnes, according to preliminary estimates by officials and experts.

The agricultural blow and lack of funds to finance the imports will add to pressure on a Syrian economy already reeling from ten years of conflict and buckling under the pressure of U.S. sanctions, neighbouring Lebanon's financial collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic.