Tartous-Sana
Today, in Tartous Governorate, marketing of the tobacco crop started from farmers in the governorate, in the Sereidin Center in Baniyas.
The Director of Agriculture and Scientific Research at the General Organization for Tobacco, Ayman Qarah Falah, said in a statement to SANA's correspondent that the Sereidin Center of the Agriculture Division in the city of Baniyas was the first center in which the committees opened procurement operations, as about 100 parcels were received, indicating that the number of committees formed in the two agricultural divisions in Tartous and Banias About 13 committees, and in the whole coastal region 16 committees.
Falah said that the General Organization for Tobacco raised the price of the municipal item known as "Sikk Al-Bint", which is the approved item in the governorate, from 1800 Syrian pounds per kilogram to 3000 pounds.
He indicated that the receiving operations are carried out in the presence of representatives from the Peasants' Union, the Directorate of Agriculture and the expert, explaining that the average daily supply is about 200 parcels and the weight of one parcel is about 25 kilograms.
Falah assured that the Foundation continues to support tobacco farmers by providing the agricultural plan requirements such as medicines, fertilizers and other credit, so that the farmer will pay for it at the end of the agricultural season, in addition to providing burlap bags for packing tobacco for free.
In turn, the head of the Tartous Peasants' Union branch, Eng. Mudhar Asaad, said that the increase in tobacco prices by the organization by 67 percent was satisfied by farmers, explaining that with the aim of facilitating the receipt of them, two new centers will soon be opened in Qadmous and Asqbla to complete the receipt of the crop, which usually lasts about two months.
In turn, the farmers emphasized the importance of handing over the crop to the public institution, as it takes care of the farmer's concerns and provides him with the necessary support for the continuation of the production process. Farmer Muhammad Haydar from the village of Beit Matuj found that the price hike this year met with great approval and satisfaction from farmers who hoped that an additional increase would be followed in the coming years, as it was carried out according to a special study by the institution that worked to reduce the financial burdens on tobacco farmers in addition to it. It achieved acceptable profits in line with the current conditions and the status of this cultivation.