Asma Mohammed

Qamishlo — The Democratic Autonomous Administration, through its specialized institutions, works to enhance agricultural support in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria by implementing integrated projects for seeds, fuel, energy, and water, in addition to developing livestock resources and public bakeries to ensure production sustainability and food security.

In recent years, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has witnessed broad administrative and economic transformations, the most prominent of which was the Executive Council’s decision in October 2024 to merge the Agriculture Directorate with the Economic Directorate. This decision came within the framework of strengthening administrative structures and unifying efforts between the two institutions whose work and areas of specialization closely intersect.

This merger represented an important step toward enhancing institutional performance and increasing the efficiency of planning and implementation across the region, given the strong interconnection between agricultural activity and the broader economic pathway, which relies heavily on plant and animal production and the services connected to them. The merger was not merely a formal administrative adjustment, but rather the outcome of extensive studies conducted by specialized committees that monitored the challenges facing both sectors, such as rising production costs, fragmented authority, duplication of administrative tasks, and disparities in resources between different cantons.

All of this prompted the relevant bodies to adopt a new institutional model that brings together agricultural and economic expertise under one umbrella, ensuring a stronger capacity to design comprehensive and integrated policies that cover agricultural production, economic planning, market oversight, and resource management.

 

In this context, the Co-Chair of the Agriculture Authority, Sabrin Al-Abdullah, affirmed that the 2024 merger of the Economy and Agriculture Authorities—implemented under the decision of the Executive Council—represented a pivotal turning point in the course of the Autonomous Administration. It was not merely a simple administrative adjustment, but rather a carefully planned strategic step aimed at rebuilding the administrative structure on new foundations that are more coherent, effective, and capable of achieving integration among the institutions and bodies operating across all cantons.

She explained that the merger was the result of extensive and in-depth discussions that lasted for several months, involving economic experts, agricultural engineers, and planning specialists. All participants concluded that unifying the efforts of the two authorities—whose mandates are closely related—was essential to creating a unified administrative framework capable of addressing the economic and agricultural challenges the region has faced in recent years. These challenges include declining resources, rising production costs, unstable climatic conditions, and the limited means available to farmers.

Enhancing the Unified Authority’s Capacity for Planning and Oversight

Sabrin Al-Abdullah stated that the merger paved the way for significant improvements in how annual plans are developed and how agricultural and economic projects are implemented. The unified authority now possesses a broader database, a more comprehensive understanding of the agricultural and economic landscape, and a more accurate ability to assess needs and identify priorities. The merger also reduced the time consumed by administrative procedures, minimized duplication of responsibilities, and improved response speed to the needs of residents and farmers across all cantons.

According to Abdullah, the Jazira Canton, being the region’s primary agricultural center, is “one of the biggest beneficiaries of this step. For the first time, integrated agricultural and economic plans were adopted, linking crop production with market growth, storage needs, and marketing requirements. This has increased harmony between administrations, enhanced efficiency in project follow-up, and strengthened communication channels between all agricultural and service centers.”

 

“Improving the Work Environment and Strengthening the Co-Chair System”

Regarding the co-chair system, she stated that it “has proven effective in fostering cooperation between men and women within the authority. Decision-making is now based on dialogue, partnership, and joint evaluation, which has positively impacted the work environment. Having qualified male and female staff within a unified authority has facilitated the exchange of expertise, improved mutual understanding, and increased the involvement of young professionals in decision-making positions. This new administrative approach has not only strengthened women’s presence in leadership roles but also enhanced coordination between administrative and technical departments, enabling more precise resource allocation and reinforcing principles of fairness and balance within the authority.”

Higher Levels of Coordination

Al-Abdullah also spoke about her previous experience supervising agricultural departments before the merger, emphasizing that this background helped strengthen the performance of the unified authority—particularly since agriculture is a broad and complex sector that includes crop production, livestock development, water resources, and service projects. She noted that one of her main goals after the merger was to organize the workflow within the authority, activate communication channels between offices, and integrate and train new staff to build a cohesive administrative system that operates as a single team. Improvements in irrigation management, agricultural oversight, price monitoring, and coordination of seasonal projects were among the most notable outcomes of the merger, as all data and indicators are now managed under a single authority, reducing task overlap and improving the speed and quality of implementation.

 

“Practical Measures to Support Farmers and Reduce Production Costs”

Regarding direct support to farmers, Al-Abdullah explained that “the Agriculture Authority has ensured the provision of sterilized, bagged, ready-to-plant seeds that meet precise scientific standards, offered at calculated prices of $350 in cash and $400 on credit per ton, to help farmers begin their planting season without bearing excessive costs.” She noted that this support followed economic studies aimed at determining prices that consider farmers’ circumstances while ensuring continuous availability of seeds in the market. She added that efforts are currently underway to expand support programs to include improved fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural machinery through specialized service centers, in addition to developing training plans to introduce farmers to modern techniques in irrigation and production—given the importance of improving farming methods and reducing water resource waste.

 

“A Comprehensive Vision for Food Security and Economic Sustainability”

The Co-Chair of the Agriculture Authority concluded by emphasizing that the unified authority now possesses a long-term vision aimed at achieving stable food security in North and East Syria by increasing local production, developing agricultural and food industries, regulating markets, and strengthening partnerships between various institutions. “The coming years will witness the launch of major agricultural projects, rural development programs, and plans to rehabilitate irrigation networks—steps that will enhance self-reliance and reduce the impact of external market fluctuations, climate instability, and limited resources available to farmers