PM Heads Meeting to Support Agricultural Sector

Damascus, (ST) – The work meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, headed by Prime Minister Imad Khamis, yesterday reviewed mechanisms to support the agricultural sector laid down by those in charge of this sector to complement what has been passed and agreed upon in the qualitative and meetings of the cabinet in this regard in order to develop human resources and mechanism of action as well as to review the regulations and laws in this area.

During the meeting, the agricultural situation and the impact of the crisis were assessed and defining priorities, especially regarding providing the seasonal support by the government.

With regard to crops of strategic agricultural products, the meeting set up a mechanism to improve the rate of these crops that suit the conditions experienced by Syria and creating new incentives to encourage farmers to continue to cultivate especially cereals, sugar beet, citrus, cotton and olive.

 Regarding the role of the General Establishment for Fodder, participants stressed the need to increase their ability to secure rations of forage and rehabilitation of feed manufacturing plants to become profitable and supportive of the national economy in addition to start the implementation of the poultry sector support plan.

The Cabinet approved in its last session three agricultural projects to encourage domestic crops, support poultry sector and the formation of specialized working group to develop and promote agricultural industries.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform and Water Resources, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the heads and managers of agricultural bodies, institutions and managers of agriculture in the provinces.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Ahmed Qadiri confirmed in a press statement the importance of the cultivation of strategic crops, especially wheat crop in safe areas, pointing out that it was set to start spreading the idea of family farming in addition to microcredit for rural women and to support and promote agricultural industrialization.

For his part, Minister of Water Resources Eng. Nabil al Hassan said that there is coordination between the ministries of agriculture and water resources for the implementation of agricultural plans in addition to the integration work between the two ministries.

Sh.  Kh.