200 Arab experts discuss ways of developing wheat production

DAMASCUS COUNTRYSIDE, DEC.28, (ST)-The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Drylands (ACSAD) has held a workshop on developing wheat production in Arab countries with the participation of 200 Arab experts and technicians in agricultural work.  

 

The three-day workshop, which kicked off today in Al-Sabbora area in Damascus countryside, will shed light on 30 scientific papers about future expectations and difficulties that face wheat production in Arab countries besides the use of advanced technologies to raise tge level of production. 

 

The Minister of Agriculture  Mohammad Hassan Qatna said that researches must focus on finding types that are more resilient in the face of climate change. 

 

He pointed out that Syria goes on with planting wheat  and ensuring production’s requirements despite of the economic siege being imposed on the country. 

 

For his part, Director General of ACSAD Nasr Eddin Obied said that wheat production at Arab level hit 25 million tonnes while the consumption reached 70 million tonnes. This means that 40 million tonnes of wheat are being imported with the cost of over $ 10 million.   

 

Secretary General of the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) Yehya Bakko asserted the need to exchange experiences.  

 

It is worth mentioning that conservation agriculture-based wheat production system (CAW) can better cope with climatic extremes than the conventional tillage-based wheat production system (CTW ). 

 

Basma Qaddour