Fresh water is considered as a top priority concern that captures Syria because of limited
water resources and high rate population growth (2.52%). This paper focuses on virtual water
concept and studies the possibility of utilization it in agricul
tural sector, and calculate the water
balance of Syria accurately. The virtual water volume was calculated for most of the crops that
are planted in Syria and the total water footprint and its indicators were calculated. A
mathematical optimization model is developed for the selection of the cropping patterns
distribution in Syria that use water with higher efficiency and better economic income, and
minimize the food gap by offering two scenarios. As a findings of this research, the food demand
was not covered completely but mostly because of water shortage, and the food gap value was
decreased in the first scenario from 10950 million Syrian pounds to 9850 million Syrian pounds
and to 5100 million Syrian pounds in the second scenario because of the productivity
improvement of some crops and the increase in the production of some crops (wheat, maize)
which are the main crops in food balance.
