In northern Syria, part of the region’s recovery can be measured in loaves of bread. After years of conflict and drought, each one represents a farmer returning to the fields, a mill restored to operation, and a bakery back in business.
That revival is at the heart of the Humanitarian Interventions through Lifesaving and Livelihood Support (HILLS) program. To reduce food insecurity in Syria’s conflict-affected areas, Global Communities and Syria Relief are helping farmers rebuild the wheat value chain from seed to bread.
Recently, HILLS provided 589 experienced farmers with seeds, fertilizers, fuel, and hands-on training to rebuild what years of instability had eroded. Across five carefully timed rounds of support, participants received the tools and training they needed to plant, protect, and harvest their crops. In return, each farmer contributed a small share of their harvest back to the program, creating a sustainable cycle that reinvests in future seasons. HILLS also rehabilitated a public mill and two bakeries in A’zaz City, linking farmers’ efforts directly to the bread on families’ tables.
By equipping 589 farmers with seeds, fertilizer, fuel, and hands-on training, the HILLS program helped produce nearly 2.2 million loaves of subsidized bread, improving access to affordable food for families across northern Syria.
“The agricultural engineers visited us regularly,” said Muhammad Mahmoud Othman, a participating farmer from the village of Tal Malid. “They provided agricultural training, field visits, and guidance on plant diseases. We learned things we did not know before.”
Despite harsh weather and limited rainfall, participating farmers successfully delivered 181.187 metric tons of wheat from their production back to Global Communities and our implementing partner, which was processed and fortified to boost its nutritional value. The resulting flour, totaling 143.223 metric tons, then became roughly 2,196,086 loaves of bread sold at subsidized prices to families across the region.
“We did our best, and despite the drought conditions, production was good,” said participating farmer Mahmoud Youssef Shabban. “… I hope this project continues in future years, because it covered almost three-quarters of the production costs. It greatly reduced the burden on farmers, especially in these difficult times.”
By reconnecting and strengthening every link in the wheat value chain, HILLS restored a daily staple that had all but disappeared from local markets. In doing so, the program is helping more than 338,350 people meet their immediate food needs while ensuring farming communities are equipped to thrive from one growing season to the next.