A farmer in Syria

Abu Goubran pictured in a green field
10 March 2018

In a land scarred by conflict, one Syrian farmer sees something unexpected: opportunity.

Seven years into conflict, reminders of Syria’s war are inescapable as you drive the country’s dusty roads. Yet if you can manage to look past them, you begin to see something familiar — a lush landscape that starts to look more like home. Rolling hills dissolve into fertile farmland that blankets the landscape. Small houses dot the horizon, punctuated by the occasional watermelon stand sitting quietly by the side of the road.

While parts of Syria, including Eastern Ghouta, are still experiencing intense fighting, many areas of the country aren't in conflict. And so on one of these plots of land, Abu Goubran, a tall, proud grandfather, is stooped over in the hot midday sun, harvesting bright purple eggplant. He works quickly, filling bags, handing them to his wife, then moving on to tomatoes, watermelon and sunflowers. There is a light in his eyes and a lifetime of experience at his back. “He knows farming better than his children’s names,” a Mercy Corps team member jokes.

Abu Goubran does not own this land, but Mercy Corps connected him to the landowner who was interested in benefiting from his expertise. With resources provided by Mercy Corps, including the area’s first greenhouse, together they have seen yields increase dramatically. The greenhouse generates 10 times more produce than they were getting before.

“I am an artist,” he says, joyfully sharing a red, juicy tomato with his beaming 1-year-old granddaughter, Wia. “I have a gift inside me, which is agriculture.”

After so many years of loss, optimism can be in short supply in Syria. But scenes like this instill hope. They give a glimpse at the possibility that still exists within Syria's people — and what it looks like when they are able to achieve it.

Abu Goubran looks through a seed catalogue with his daughter Dou’aa, 10, outside their house. Because this village is farther away from active fighting, Mercy Corps is able to work with the community to promote greater access to more diverse foods. Altogether, this farm directly supports four families.
Dou’aa stands inside their greenhouse. The use of greenhouses is not common in this area, and thanks to this one, her family is the first that is able to grow vegetables out of season. "Developing this as a demonstration plot will help other farmers," Abu Goubran says.
Mohammed, 15, carries fresh tomatoes from the fields. He is the landowner’s son. This village is home to another 400 families who benefit indirectly from reduced prices and a broader range of foods.
Abu Goubran's wife, Houda, harvests vegetables. The farm uses organic methods, with an apiary on-site to pollinate the fields.
Abu Goubran's son Safouan (center, 12) and his friends bring recently harvested watermelon home on a motorcycle.
Abu Goubran with his granddaughter Wia, 1, and a pile of freshly harvested eggplant, tomatoes and watermelon. Farming expertise like his will be critical to Syria's communities as they look to the future. Local farmers come here for training sessions on innovative farming techniques. “I’m so happy to share what I know,” he says.
Wia eats a freshly harvested tomato. Syria's future depends on its communities being able to provide sustainable sources of income for families like this one. Mercy Corps is committed to helping Syrians harness their expertise to provide a better, stronger future for their families. “I gave my life to this," Abu Goubran says.

 

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