Syria: Daraa produces half of its early potato crop

Published 2024년 6월 14일

Tridge summary

Due to the Netherlands' refusal to export potato seeds to Syria, farmers in the western countryside have been forced to use local, non-hybrid seeds, resulting in lower yields and increased production costs. The number of hectares planted with the spring cycle of potatoes has increased, but the high cost of seeds, fertilizer, and labor, coupled with reduced yields, has decreased profit margins for farmers. The annual potato production in Daraa is estimated at 100,000 tons, making it the second most planted crop after tomatoes.

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Original content

The decline is attributed to farmers using local seeds (non-hybrid) due to the delay in the arrival of imported seeds, related to the refusal of the Netherlands (the exporting country) to supply seeds to Syria. The delay in the arrival of the seeds led most farmers in the western countryside to use local seeds, which are small potatoes from the previous season preserved in cool storage until planting time. Mohammad Kiwani, a farmer who dedicated 20 dunums to potato crops this season, told Enab Baladi that his production did not exceed one and a half tons per dunum, whereas it was about three tons in previous seasons for the same area. Farmers typically plant spring cycle potatoes early in December and harvest them in April. Dutch private companies stopped exporting potato seeds to Syria due to European sanctions on the Syrian regime, and shipping difficulties added to the problem. Wail al-Tawil, director of the General Organization for Seed Multiplication, told Athr Press in ...

Source: Argenpapa