Powering agricultural revival: How solar-based irrigation is transforming Northeast Syria's war-torn fields

This study examines the impact of solar-powered irrigation on agricultural recovery in the Abadan sub-district of northeast Syria, a region severely affected by war and drought. The research evaluates five dimensions of agricultural recovery: profitability, productivity, job creation effects, investment attraction, and household expenditures. The analysis, conducted using propensity score matching, indicates that solar-powered irrigation significantly enhances agricultural profitability, with solar users earning an average of $20.42 more per acre compared to diesel users (p = 0.001). Wheat productivity showed a modest increase from 0.151 to 0.179 tons per acre, though the difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.365). Similarly, solar-based farms generated an average of 87.42 working days per year, compared to 75.30 days for diesel-based farms, but this difference was also not statistically significant (p = 0.60). Despite these mixed outcomes, the study highlights a significant shift towards the cultivation of summer crops, such as cotton, facilitated by more reliable water supply provided by solar-powered irrigation. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions, including the promotion of advanced irrigation techniques and financial support for infrastructure development. Such measures are critical for maximizing the benefits of solar-based irrigation and ensuring broader, more sustainable agricultural recovery in the region.