Damascus-SANA
The Ministry of Agriculture estimated citrus production in Syria for the 2021-2022 season at about 787,000 tons, most of which were concentrated in Lattakia and then Tartous.
Director of the Citrus Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Eng. Suhail Hamdan, explained in a statement to SANA that the initial production estimates, according to the current reality of the citrus season, amount to approximately 787 thousand tons at the level of Syria, including more than 563,000 tons in Lattakia and more than 213 thousand tons in Tartous, with an area of 41,575 hectares. About 14.5 million trees are planted, of which 13.9 million are fruitful trees.
Hamdan pointed out that the production estimates of the acid group are about 106 thousand tons, equivalent to 14 percent of the total Syrian citrus production, of which 60 percent are in Tartous, and the orange group is approximately 465,000 tons, and is equivalent to 60 percent of the total citrus production, of which 80 percent is in Lattakia and the Mandarin group is about 163 thousand tons. 21 percent of the total citrus production, of which 71 percent is in Lattakia.
The Ministry of Agriculture estimated the production of the Indian lemon group (grapefruit and pomelo) at about 43 thousand tons, equivalent to 6 percent of the total Syrian citrus production, of which 67 percent is in Tartous, according to Hamdan, who indicated that the Abu Surra orange variety is expected to have the highest production for the current season with about 181 thousand. followed by orange with about 130 thousand tons, and the lowest production of colored and white grapefruit with about 10,600 tons and 10800 tons, respectively.
Hamdan said that the impact of climatic changes has become clear on agricultural production in general and on citrus in particular, as it is a tree known for its great need for service and care, especially irrigation. In some areas of citrus cultivation in Lattakia as a result of the decline in dam stocks this year.
Hamdan explained that the current season's production decreased from the general average of citrus production during the period 2016-2021, as the total production of Lattakia decreased by 31.7 percent and Tartous by 12.5 percent, and Syria's production decreased by 27.3 percent compared to the general average of the past five years.
Ghassob Abboud
