Bassam Ali, head of the Citrus Export Committee, revealed that the current citrus production in Syria is estimated at 250,000 tons, a figure that contrasts with the Ministry of Agriculture's projection of 360,000 to 400,000 tons. This discrepancy highlights the challenges facing the citrus sector, with the reporting of increasing obstacles each year. Ali noted a shift among farmers towards more economically viable crops, with 50 to 60% ceasing to cultivate citrus fruits in favor of other agricultural ventures like tropical farming and grape vines, which are in higher demand.
The decline in citrus production from 1.25 million tons in 2010 to about 250,000 tons reflects a significant drop, amidst conflicting production estimates from regime officials. Latakia's Director of Agriculture, Bassam Duba, estimated the production at 840,000 tons for Latakia alone, while other estimates range from 650,000 to 688,000 tons for all regime-controlled areas. These figures indicate a lack of consensus on the actual production volume, exacerbating farmers' concerns over marketing challenges.
The sector is further burdened by the accumulation of produce, leading to spoilage and financial losses for farmers. The absence of government intervention, such as establishing juice factories to process the surplus, has been a recurring issue. Additionally, the increase in agricultural costs, including fertilizers, has made it difficult for farmers to sustain their operations, prompting some to uproot citrus trees in favor of construction or alternative crops.
Source: EB