Local sources in Quneitra report that farming and livestock herding have become life-threatening activities due to the ongoing presence and aggression of Israeli occupation forces.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Syrian farmer and herder Musa al-Azzam from the Quneitra countryside stated: "Last year, after the Israeli occupation army tightened the siege on shepherds and herders in southern Syria, I was forced to sell most of my flock of about 100 sheep at low prices."
He added: "Livestock herding in Quneitra has truly become a dangerous adventure today, because if a shepherd approaches the pastures, he may at any moment be shot by the Israeli occupation forces."
Al-Azzam further explained: "In addition, Israeli army planes repeatedly spray chemicals on the lands that herders rely on for grazing their animals, with the aim of preventing the regrowth of vegetation. Given the lack of alternatives and the deprivation of herders from their natural pastures, the continuation of these operations could lead to a reduction of more than 80 percent in livestock in Quneitra next year."
To identify the substances used, the Quneitra Agriculture Directorate has sent samples of soil, plants, and grass from affected areas to specialized laboratories in Damascus for analysis.
Jamal al-Ali, director of the Quneitra Agriculture Directorate, confirmed that the wilting of green vegetation after spraying proves the materials are herbicides targeting plant life, with the main danger lying in their widespread effect on natural pastures.
Syrian sources emphasize that the consequences extend beyond animal feed to rain-fed farming, which forms the foundation of livelihood in border villages.
Jamil al-Ayissi, head of al-Asbah village in Quneitra, said the Israeli army's spraying of chemicals on farmland, following measures that already deterred residents from farming and grazing, has dealt a severe blow to the region's agricultural sector.
He noted: "Some residents continue to cultivate their land despite threats of shooting or arrest by the occupation forces, but the continuous use of chemicals will block even their remaining sources of livelihood."
Al-Ayissi stressed that border villages in southern Syria have suffered significant losses due to the Israeli seizure of large areas of farmland for additional military bases and the prevention of access to remaining plots, blocking the cultivation of staple crops like wheat and winter produce.
This has deprived hundreds of families of their primary income source, worsening already difficult living conditions in an area almost entirely dependent on agriculture and herding.
Another farmer, Mohammed al-Asrawi from al-Ajraf village in the Quneitra countryside, said farmers are barred from reaching their lands, with some losing them entirely to ongoing Israeli encroachments for military bases, while others risk their lives daily to reach their fields.
He added: "Agriculture and livestock are the main sources of livelihood for most Quneitra residents, but Israeli attacks have severely impacted these sectors."
Al-Asrawi warned that agricultural and livestock production in Quneitra has sharply declined, and these challenges—combined with limited government resources and high production costs—are forcing many residents to abandon their land, likely leading to a major food crisis in the near future.
Agriculture and livestock remain the backbone of the local economy in Quneitra province, where thousands of families depend on raising animals and growing wheat and winter crops for food and income.
With shrinking arable areas, chemical poisoning, and restricted access, Quneitra residents face a deepening threat to their livelihoods and stability.