Damascene rose – a strategic economic crop

Over the years of work, support and follow-up, the Damascene rose has moved from being a flower used by a group of people in the village of Al-Marah in the countryside of Damascus to a cultural and social heritage and a strategic economic crop for its farmers. People of Al-Marah were able, with continuous effort, to develop its production until it reached all parts of the world.

People of the village of Al-Marah, while harvesting their most important crop, noted to SANA  that what connects them with the rose is a decades-old story, during which they lived through various kinds of rituals and grew up loving it. They redoubled their efforts to protect it as an economic crop and increase its production to make its name a symbol of culture and beauty.

The farmers expressed their pride that the rose is on the World Heritage List. They noted that they have been working in the cultivation of the rose for more than thirty years and they were able to increase the cultivated areas because it has become one of the most important economic crops for the people of Al-Marah. They pointed out that its products have reached all parts of the world and have become one of the most important roses, therefore, the village farmers doubled their efforts to protect this rose, expand its cultivation and production, and educate future generations to love it.

Yara Barhoum, member of the Syria Trust for Development, asserted that the STD is working with the community to develop and promote the culture of this heritage and preserve it.

Al-Bitar Foundation for the Revival and Development of the Damascene Rose was present at the harvest festival through a device for distilling rose water to   acquaint visitors with the process of distillation and the extraction of a 100% natural product.

Fahd Al-Bitar, a member of the Foundation, indicated that the Foundation has been working for years in coordination and cooperation with the Syria Trust for Development and other parties to spread the culture of expanding the cultivation of the Damascene rose.

One of the marketers of rose products, Ali Al-Bitar, illustrated how the rose moved from an ordinary crop to a product that reached various societies and is now being requested by name, and work is underway to develop its products to bring it to the world.

The guests of the harvest festival came from various governorates to participate with the people of Al-Marah in harvesting the rose, expressing their love for it and getting acquainted with it closely.

The artist, Sulaf Fawakherji, indicated in a statement to SANA  that the importance of the rose stems from the fact that it has become a Syrian symbol of beauty and culture, and its status has risen after its registration on the list of intangible world heritage. This requires us, as artists, to work to showcase its importance within dramatic works that talk about its whereabouts, social rituals associated with it, and making  people familiar with this important heritage.

From the Palestinian Embassy, Hala Al-Akiyuk, a member of the Syrian Diplomatic Club, said that her participation with the people of Al-Marah in picking their rose is one of the most beautiful and wonderful experiences, as she knew the kindness and simplicity of the people of village that embraces a rose whose fame has reached all over the world.

The Damascene Rose Harvest Festival was launched in the village of Al-Marah on the twenty-fifth of this month, with wide popular and official participation.

Inas Abdulkareem