Harnessing salty water to enhance sustainable livelihoods of the rural poor in four countries in West Asia and North Africa: Syria

Due to the availability of old maps for the distribution of saline ground-water, the production of a new map for ground-water quality is advisable, in addition to a map of saline agricultural drainage water. These maps with other maps of soil type and geomorphologic maps and with the use of GIS technology could help in selecting pilot areas for executing a project of using such water in biosaline agriculture for further dissemination to other promising areas. The proper use of saline water could help the establishment of nomads, reduce the poverty in the country especially in the Syrian Badieh and rural areas. Increase the Syrian GDP through increasing fodder for the existing sheep and goat herds in the country. In addition to reducing the need for governmental support of animal feed during the dry season. Moreover, improving the establishment of nomads in the areas producing fodder for animals will increase literacy, educated women in the rural areas and Syrian Badieh.