Hama-Sana
The Hama Agriculture Directorate estimated that the governorate’s primary production of pomegranate fruits for the current season is 2725 tons, the majority of which is from the production of irrigated lands.
Bassam Al-Nashar, head of the Plant Production Department in the Hama Agriculture Directorate, indicated to the SANA Economic Bulletin that pomegranate cultivation in the governorate is witnessing a development and an increase in the cultivated area in various regions, especially in the Masyaf region, where it contributes to enhancing the income of rural families and providing job opportunities during agricultural operations such as picking, pruning and production. In addition, its cultivation is characterized by its rapid entry into fruition, as the crop begins after two years of planting and does not require many services compared to many other tree species.
Al-Nashar pointed out that the most important varieties for which the governorate is famous are the sweet type, both ordinary and sparrow, which is a good variety characterized by large-sized and early-ripening fruits, and its taste is between sweet and sour, as well as French, red sour peel and laurel, pointing out that all these varieties are sold and provided through guaranteed agricultural nurseries.
For her part, Engineer Laila Azzouz, Head of the Planning Department in the Directorate, pointed out that the area of land planted with pomegranate trees is about 2430 dunums, of which 1971 are irrigated and 459 are rainfed, while the total number of pomegranate trees in the governorate has reached 178,579 trees, including 169,564 fruitful trees.
For his part, Ghazwan Al-Hawash, a farmer from the town of Al-Qaba, believes that the farmers realized the nutritional and economic value of the pomegranate tree due to the peculiarity of its low costs, good economic profitability and unique medicinal properties, in addition to the versatility of pomegranate fruits as supplies used during the winter months.
While the farmer, Muhammad Al-Hassan, believes that the pomegranate is a financially rewarding crop for farmers as a result of its multiple uses, such as making molasses and some medical uses.
Suhad Hassan
SANA Economic Bulletin
