Homs-Sana
The decision to receive the juicy white grape crop by the grape manufacturing company in the town of Zaidel in the Homs countryside, through contracts with agricultural associations, encouraged many farmers to contract with the company to deliver their crop for the current season.
The farmer Fida Al-Akari from the village of Al-Rawda in the eastern countryside of Homs, who owns 20 dunums planted with juicy white grapes, explained that the financial advances that the company gives to the farmers contracting with it at an early date and before the ripening of the crop has a positive impact and a great role in helping the farmers to serve the vineyards from planting and spraying pesticides This contributes to increasing productivity and preserving the crop in preparation for its marketing, indicating that the company’s provision of 10 liters of subsidized diesel for each ton delivered encourages farmers and increases their desire each season to deliver their grape crop.
From the village of Abu Dali, the farmer Abdel Moeen Ibrahim, head of the agricultural association in it, explained that he has owned 10 dunums for more than 20 years and has been handing over his crop to the grape manufacturing company on an annual basis because it is the only guarantee for the farmers’ rights, their fatigue and their efforts during the season, noting that the association contracted with the company to deliver 1,800 tons of grapes.
Regarding the company’s readiness to receive the crop, the director of the company, Eng. Manal Asad, indicated in a statement to SANA reporter that the main and backup production lines, packing machines, mashers and presses have been maintained and are ready to receive the crop. It was also contracted to receive 3500 tons of the juicy white grape crop.
Asad explained that financial advances were paid to the agricultural associations contracted with her at a value of 600 million Syrian pounds, at a rate of 200,000 Syrian pounds for each ton delivered to the company, noting that specialized technical committees will be formed to inspect the vine orchards and measure the degree of sweetness, especially since some areas ripen grapes before others. Depending on the weather and soil conditions, to determine the date of receipt.
Director of Homs Agriculture, Engineer Younis Hamdan, confirmed that the decision to receive the crop by the grape manufacturing company encourages farmers to market the crop at good prices and is considered a support for them and prevents the exploitation of traders and also contributes to operating the factory and manufacturing the crop.
The head of the Homs Farmers’ Union, Suleiman Ezz El-Din, considered that the decision granted an incentive bonus to farmers, and fixing the price of grapes is no less important than the rest of the strategic crops of wheat, cotton and sugar beet.
On the reality of the crop, the head of the Statistics Department in the Directorate of Agriculture in Homs, Eng. Hanan Al-Saleh, indicated that the governorate’s production for the current agricultural season is estimated at more than 54 thousand tons, and the total cultivated area is about 191 thousand dunums, of which about 175,000 dunums are rain-fed and the rest is irrigated.
Al-Saleh explained that the number of trees is 10,188 thousand, of which 9,239,000 are planted in rain-fed lands and the rest are irrigated. and Halawani.”
Abdul Hamid Al Junaidi
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