Drought impacts on Syrian agricultural production
Syria, Agriculture, 5/7/1999

Syrian agricultural production is expected to witness a great recession this year, in comparison with the past years due to the hard drought which hit the Middle East region.

The director of statistics and planning department at the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, Nahi al-Shebani, said that "wheat production for this year will recede. It will still be able to meet the local consumption needs," estimated at 2.5 million tonnes.

In 1998 Syria produced 4.11 tonnes of wheat, 13.2 million in 1997 and 4100 million in 1996. Since 1992 Syria has maintained self-sufficiency in wheat production and has exported the surplus since 1995.

Al-Sheibani stressed that wheat production in irrigated areas (700,000 hectares) is "good," adding that in the non-irrigated areas of 900,000 hectares, wheat production is "less than usual." Yet, he added that Syria has "enough storage of wheat."

Al-Sheibani continued that barely for its turn was "greatly" affected in areas of less rainfall, noting that Syria has a surplus storage of barely, part of which was distributed to cattle breeders. He went on that as a result of this situation the Syrian government permitted the importation of barley, and facilities were given in this respect.

Moreover livestock was also greatly affected by the drought. Livestock in Syria is mainly composed of 15 million heads of sheep and 919,999 cows. Al-Sheibani stated that the main impact of drought on the livestock came in as no pastures were grown for this season, in a country where pastures provide 60% of cattle's annual needs."

Previous Stories:
  Vegetable production in Syria   (4/10/1999)
  Development of horticulture in Syria   (4/2/1999)
  Agriculture in Syria and the Euphrates   (3/26/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search