Syria's Aleppo 'red gold' pistachios hit by drought, pests and market strain

Farmers race to salvage Aleppo pistachio harvest amid drought and insecurity

Abu Abdo, a veteran farmer in Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib, tends pistachio groves he describes as a "treasure" as the al hawash harvest approaches, having hired workers and posted guards to protect the crop. Years of conflict forced difficult choices for growers — including temporary departures and losses to armed checkpoints and extortion — but recent political changes have eased transport to major markets. This season, however, severe drought and the spread of pests have already reduced yields and forced farmers to take costly measures such as digging wells and hiring protection.

Markets, pests and mixed production forecasts

Traders in Aleppo report an unprecedented drop in local sales with prices near $6 per kilo, far below the $20–$30 per kilo obtainable in export markets. Farmers blame drought, Capnodis tenebrionis beetles and mealybug infestations for a 20–30% fall in output this year, while officials from the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Agriculture point to the pistachio's alternate-bearing cycle and predict a possible 50–55% production rise. Growers remain worried about rising input costs and the risk of another poor season if drought continues, and many are pinning hopes on eased marketing and export access to recoup losses, as reported by The Independent