Agriculture Ministry, ACSAD, ACF Discuss Cooperation

Damascus, (ST) – The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Ahmed Qadri discussed yesterday with the Director-General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Areas (ACSAD) Dr. Rafiq Ali Saleh, and the National Coordinator of the Spanish Anti-Hunger Organization (ACF), Svetlana Kabostyan, areas of cooperation and ways of strengthening and development of this cooperation.

Mr. al -Qadri pointed to the potential for future cooperation in the areas of support for the livestock sector so as to help the farmers for the stability, rationalize the use of water due to the drought and to support rural women as well as to strengthen the existing cooperation through the draft emergency support in the area of food security, water, affected families from the crisis in Syria and support their livelihoods.

He expressed his appreciation to the Qadiri ACSAD and ACH large for their support to farmers affected by the crisis, which help to relieve them, noting the efforts and achievements ACSAD especially in recent years.

For his part, Saleh expressed his thanks and appreciation for Syria’s president, government and people to their support of the center, noting seriously the work of the Spanish organization and the positive results of this cooperation with them as provided in support of poor farmers affected by the crisis in the recent years in the provinces of Daraa, Hasaka, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour.

Dr. Saleh pointed to the existence of new cooperation projects between the three entities such as support for the establishment water blocks projects in the coastal zone project, stressing the need to supporting poor rural women breadwinners.

For her part, Mrs. Kabostyan expressed great appreciation of the Organization for the constructive cooperation with the Ministry and ACSAD, pointing out that she is trying to persuade European donors to include the province of Lattakia in some upcoming projects because they expect populated pressure therefore it needs to support.

Sh. Al -Khatib