Damascus-SANA
The Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection clarified that the damaged quantities of citrus are not from healthy fruits but from small crustaceans (Carmentina and its sisters) that fell from trees due to the white fly and the lack of rain, stressing that these fruits cannot be marketed internally or externally.
In a statement published on its Facebook page, the ministry indicated that the current season's production of citrus is greater than the capacity of the internal market to consume, and the Syrian Trade was not asked to buy the entire crop, as it is greater than the volume of internal consumption.
The ministry denied what was circulated about that Syrian Trade pays between 100 to 200 pounds for citrus to the farms, stressing that it paid 480 pounds per kilo for first-class oranges at the beginning of the season, and it reached 650 pounds per kilo in recent weeks, with the provision of boxes and transportation at the expense of the institution, which amounts to 200 to 300 pounds Additional to the purchase price considering that it is an excellent price.
It is noteworthy that the head of the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture, Muhammad Kashto, told SANA today that contracts will be signed to export citrus fruits to neighboring countries, and export shipments will start as of next week towards Iraq.
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