Its orchards contain more than 733 thousand trees... Almond cultivation attracts the attention of farmers in Sweida

As-Suwayda-Sana

Almond cultivation in As-Suwayda Governorate occupies a lot of interest from farmers and those concerned with agricultural affairs, based on its economic importance and its adaptation to environmental conservation conditions.

The Director of Agriculture in As-Suwayda, Engineer Ayham Hamed, said in a statement to SANA reporter that the areas planted with almonds in As-Suwayda governorate amount to about 27,000 dunams, comprising more than 733,000 trees, of which the fruit is about 583,000 trees and spread in various regions of the governorate, especially the eastern, western, Shahba and Dahr al-Jabal.

According to Hamed, the cultivation of the almond tree has expanded in As-Suwayda Governorate in recent years, as it is adapted to environmental conditions and is less in need of water and can grow in rugged areas due to the ability of its roots to go deep into multiple soils, pointing out that its annual production ranges between 1700 and 3000 tons, while production estimates for the current season are About 1828 tons.

It includes the most important varieties of almonds planted in As-Suwayda Governorate, as mentioned by the Director of Agriculture (the American Texas and the Ferris), which are late in their flowering date, which protects them to some degree from the danger of spring frosts.

Engineer Hamed indicated that the production costs of the almond tree are lower than the rest of the fruitful trees in the governorate, such as apples and grapes, and its fruits are characterized by their ability to be stored for a long time and their remunerative prices for farmers, pointing out that there are varieties of almonds in Sweida with good marketing specifications that are used in the manufacture of sweets, nuts and pharmaceutical industries, in addition to the high nutritional value of their fruits.

He pointed out that the directorate is working to educate farmers about the spread varieties and their specifications, while providing information about the appropriate soils, nutritional needs, service operations, pests to which the tree is exposed, and how to combat them. Exact date.

According to the head of the Department of Plant Production in the Directorate of Agriculture, Eng. Akram Saray El-Din, the directorate annually provides about 25,000 almond seedlings to farmers, the majority of which are produced within the Arra Agricultural Center, and it is one of the late-flowering varieties that are in great demand.

In her turn, the head of the Agricultural Extension Department in the Directorate, Engineer Rawan Abu Hamra, indicated that there is a plan of extension activities for the almond crop to raise awareness of how to provide services and integrated pest management, as well as the establishment of field schools, extension fields and related production matches.

Hikmat Al-Qalani, the farmer, explained that almond cultivation is economically feasible if the necessary services are provided to the tree, advising farmers, after his experience in planting an orchard area of ​​10 dunums containing 350 trees, to plant the late varieties with their flowering to avoid spring frost waves.

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