War, climate change take toll on Syria’s 'golden' crop

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STORY: Pistachios have become

a casualty of the war in Syria

They're known as the 'golden' crop

and have long been a valuable export

But many of the trees were

slashed and burned during the war

Climate change is taking a toll too

Syria saw its worst drought

in more than 70 years in 2021

PISTACHIO FARMER, YOUSSEF IBRAHIM, SAYING:

"For example this bunch of pistachios should be bigger than this, almost double the size. Because of the dryness, lack of water, lack of fuel due to the sanctions, we are unable to water them properly."

Farmers are harvesting just a quarter

of the crop they gathered before the war

Planting new trees takes up to 12 years to bear fruit