Syria – Drought, feed shortage raise livestock breeders’ concerns

Location: Qamshili, Syria

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:32

Source: A24 News Agency

Restriction: A24 clients

Dateline: 18/3/2022

Storyline

Livestock in northern and eastern Syria is facing the threat of extinction due to the drought that has hit the region since last year, causing a shortage of fodder. The significant increase in the value of the US dollar against the Syrian pound has led to an increase in feed prices, forcing animal breeders to sell their livestock at low prices. The price of one head of sheep now costs 150-200 thousand Syrian pounds SYP (about USD 50), after its price last year was SYP 700 thousand (about USD 200), according to a sheep breeder. Meanwhile, veterinary clinics say that breeders’ demand for medicines, vaccines, and vitamins decreased, due to poor financial capacity.  The authorities in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria are unable to provide sufficient and necessary support to the livestock sector.

Shotslist

– Soundbite (Abu Saad – Sheep breeder):

“I had a total of 1000 head of cattle, now I only have 100 head left. Feed prices are higher than food oil. A kilo of bran is 1400 SYP (about USD0.55), a kilo of hay is 1700 SYP (about USD 0.67), and a kilo of wheat is 2000 SYP (about USD 0.79).”

– Soundbite (Abu Daleel – livestock seller and dealer):

“Feed shortages and low demand for livestock forced herders to sell their livestock at low prices to avoid their deaths. We did not receive any help in the feed crisis. Last year, the price of one head of sheep was 750-800 thousand SYP, but this year its price is only 150-200 thousand SYP.”

– Soundbite (Fawaz Al Salmo – Sheep Breeder):

“I lack fodder for ten heads of cattle. I even looked for fodder in the garbage but found nothing. I don’t know what to do. I put it up for sale but no one bought it. I can’t afford fodder. I can’t even afford bread.”

– Soundbite (Shavan Mohamed – veterinarian):

“The high prices forced them (the breeders) to dispense with treatment, vaccinations, and any kind of medicine. Only those who can afford treatment, buy. In the past years, our earnings per day were $200, but now we barely earn 150-170 thousand Syrian pounds (about $59.71).”

To Download Material