Syrian citrus production estimated at 750,000 tons
Syria, Agriculture, 11/22/1999

Preliminary estimates indicate that Syria's total production of various citrus types is estimated at 750,000 tons for the 1999-2000 season. Citrus cultivation is considered among the most important areas of economic cultivation in Syria, especially in the coastal area. It covers 27,000 hectares of arable lands and has 10 million citrus trees.

This abundant crop suffers price recession because it is not exported. And questions have been raised as to why Syrian citrus are not exported though it enjoys high competing qualities. For instance, Spain produces 5 million tons of citrus of which it exports 2.5 million, Morocco produces 1.7 million tons and exports 500,000 tons, and Turkey produces 1.7 million tons and exports 400,000 tons; Syria, which has an annual production of 750,000 tons, exported only 160,000 tons in 1998.

Although the bio-control system is introduced to this cultivation and the best types of citrus are produced, the export procedures are very slow due to the lack of a set exportation policy and the lack of cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and the producers.

Citrus is a strategic crop in the coastal area, on which some 27,000 families survive, and if this cultivation is not given due care in terms of finding the proper channels for exportation, further deterioration in prices is expected.

Previous Stories:
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