Damascus-Sana
The research forum, which included technicians from the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands “ACSAD” and the General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Research, discussed methods of limiting the spread of red palm weevil.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Dr. Loay Aslan pointed out the importance of scientific cooperation between the ministry and ACSAD in all fields, indicating that the number of palm trees in Syria is 225 thousand trees and that the ministry has 3 nurseries to secure plantations and shrubs for farmers and seeks to increase the number of nurseries.
Aslan stressed that the transfer of seedlings between the governorates and their entry into the country is subject to strict procedures by the ministry, especially that the first infestation of the palm weevil insect was recorded in 2005 in Latakia, and the reason was the entry of irregular seedlings, then the infection spread to the coast and in the year before last it appeared in Homs, indicating that the ministry It works to remove infected trees.
In turn, Dr. Rafeeq Ali Al-Saleh, Director General of ACSAD, stated that the meeting comes within the framework of the Center’s and the Ministry of Agriculture’s concern in assessing the current status of the spread of this insect in fruitful palm groves and on ornamental palm trees planted on the sides of public roads and determining the effectiveness of prevention and treatment methods used in combating it.
On the objective of the research forum, Al-Saleh pointed out in a statement to SANA that it is to develop an integrated plan of action to combat palm weevil and benefit from ACSAD's experience in this field, which extends for more than 30 years.
Ghossoub Aboud-Bushra Barhoum
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