“Green investment” the first conference specialized in medical and aromatic plants

Damascus (ST) – The Federation of Syrian Chambers of Agriculture held the first conference specialized in medical and aromatic plants under the title (Green Investment), with the participation of the concerned government agencies, the private sector, the business sector, and research and funding bodies and institutions, at the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Eng. Mohamed Hassan Qatana, explained that the aim of this conference is to develop a new strategy for the cultivation of medical and aromatic plants, analyze problems, develop solutions, and develop this sector to be a nucleus of development in rural areas. He pointed out that investing these plants in an economic and developmental way achieves high benefits and provides rural residents with great jobs.

He indicated that the Standards and Metrology Authority is seeking to characterize these plants, as the agricultural scientific researchers are working hard to find the genetic fingerprint. The Ministry of Agriculture is working to develop the evidence for these plants cultivation and dissemination.

The Head of the Federation of Syrian Chamber of Agriculture, Muhammad Kishto, indicated that there are more than 3000 vegetable, medical and aromatic product in Syria.

The director of (Syria) Medicinal Herbs Company, Dr. Shadi Khatib, stressed the importance of reaching a formula in which a group of medically economical plants names are circulated and can be invested.

The participants called for benefiting from the experiences of the countries that succeeded in medical cultivation, the introduction of carob in the areas that were exposed to fires, the need to link production to the drainage market, creating integrated production systems linked to each other, raising awareness of the importance of these plants and avoiding the use of chemical pesticides.

Najla Khoury