Minister of Agriculture and his Sudanese counterpart inspect agricultural projects and forestry sites in Homs

The Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Abu Bakr Omar Al-Bushra, and the accompanying delegation, and the Syrian Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Hassan Qatana were briefed on the work situation in a number of agricultural research centers, plant production projects, and forestry sites in Homs Governorate.
In a statement to reporters, Minister Qatana explained the importance of enhancing joint cooperation between the two countries and exchanging agricultural expertise and products by reviewing successful experiences, including a farm for producing local mushrooms that cover the needs of the local market and export fresh and processed quantities.
Minister Qatana pointed out that the Dahr Al-Qasir forestry site, which is famous for its chestnut, cedar, conifer, medicinal and aromatic plants, was visited, and a number of apple orchards were visited in the village of Rabah, as it is considered one of the most important products that Sudan imports from Syria.
In turn, the Sudanese Minister of Agriculture confirmed that the visit contributed to identifying many achievements and gaining knowledge through visiting the mushroom production facility, as Syria produces large quantities of it, while most countries import it, pointing out Sudan’s interest in forests, especially chestnuts and conifers and their development, as there are large areas in Arab countries that can be cultivated, in addition to visiting apple orchards to see how to cultivate and care for it, as Sudan is considered one of the major importers of Syrian apples.
In turn, the Director of Homs Agriculture, Engineer Abdul Hadi Darwish, explained that the Sudanese delegation’s visit included the Rastan Dam to see the water content and fish wealth in it, the lands it irrigates, the seed multiplication center, and the most important types of seeds available.
For his part, the Director of the Dahr al-Qasir Forestry Site, Engineer Farqad Fandi, explained that the area of the site is about 1,500 hectares, and chestnut trees constitute 35 percent of the number of trees present, with a number exceeding 400,000 trees, pointing out the importance of the site environmentally, touristically, and economically.
The Minister of Agriculture and his Sudanese counterpart met with the Governor of Homs, Eng. Namir Makhlouf, in the presence of the Sudanese Ambassador to Damascus and the Director of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands ACSAD, Dr. Nasreddin Al-Ubaid. The discussion revolved around the importance of Homs Governorate due to its geographical location, in addition to the climatic and agricultural diversity and forest sites.

NR