On the 19th of April, 2025, we visited the Democratic Autonomous Administration’s Economy and Agriculture Body. We asked the management of the body about their views on the region’s situation. The following text is based on that discussion.

The problems of energy production are now at the core of all problems in the region. The lack of energy – the fuel, gas, and electricity – is affecting the agriculture, economy and ecology. Many farmers have not been able to cultivate their lands because of the lack of energy. This causes a variety of other problems, such as shortage of bread and need to bring wheat products from outside North and East Syria. Because the electricity stations are largely destroyed, the households, business and industry are all using diesel generators that are heavily polluting the air. The oil industry is an ecological problem itself, but also the diesel used in the generators is not clean.

The problem with electricity is not new, but it has escalated during the recent years. Cutting off the water flow of Euphrates river by Turkey is only one aspect of this. We have always been under embargo, and it has been impossible to purchase and import the needed equipment for maintaining and building electricity infrastructure nor to clean the oil. We have had to rely on bringing equipment from Assad’s Regime areas, and they have also been under embargo. So, the infrastructure has been insufficient. Then, the existing electricity stations have been hit and almost completely destroyed in Turkey’s systematic attacks on infrastructure that started in October 2023.

The attack was not only targetted to energy production as itself, it was also targetted to the autonomy of North and East Syria, its democratic administration and ways of self-organizing. It was an attack to the foundations of the self-administration and it has affected peoples’ lives, the infrastructure and the experience itself. Turkey has not been the only actor who has attacked us with these goals. The Iranians and the Assad’s regime have tried in various methods to weaken and destroy the self-administration, especially in Deir ez-Zor.

The Economy and Agriculture Body is seeking for alternative energy solutions. For example, solar energy has started to be used in small scale in the agriculture sector. So far, financing the transition has been the major problem. Still, some farmers have started to shift from diesel based to the solar based electricity. Any international cooperation related to sustainable energy would have an impact, even if it would be small.

Experts and engineers from abroad will be needed here. Especially if we will be able to bring new equipment and establish new, alternative sources of energy. Then we will need also education and training on them.

International support from scientist of plant breeding field is also needed in North and East Syria. The Economy and Agriculture body is maintaining a research and development centre for sustainable agriculture. Work on seeds breeding is taking place there. Because of the climate change, plant seeds need to be developed to be more resistant against drought. Earlier US Aid was supporting the research and development in the centre, but due to Trump’s administration the support was terminated. Earlier USAID was supporting the research and development in the centre, but due to Trump’s administration the support was terminated. New international collaborations are warmly welcomed.

Emmaus Jokioinen is putting its main efforts, on one hand, in facilitating teaching cooperation on MSc and PhD levels in the Institute of Science and Modern Technology of the University of Rojava, and, on the other hand, in technical and methodological support for the Tigris Polytechnic. The aim is to contribute to the enhancement of local expertise in North and East Syria. However, we encourage all interested engineers and experts on sustainable energy and plant breeding to collaborate directly with the Economy and Agriculture Body of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. You can get in contact with them trough Emmaus Jokioinen. Send us an email to [email protected].