With the commencement of the citrus season in Syria, the government faces challenges in effectively marketing the crop, leading to significant losses for farmers. This issue has prompted some farmers to abandon citrus cultivation in favor of other crops or even non-agricultural ventures. Estimates of the current citrus season's production have varied, with figures ranging from 650,000 to 840,000 tons. The majority of the production is concentrated in the provinces of Latakia and Tartus. Adverse weather conditions, including heatwaves and low humidity, have been cited as reasons for a decline in production.
The cost of citrus production has risen sharply, making it difficult for farmers to profit. The selling price of citrus does not cover the increased costs of production, including packaging, fertilizers, transportation, labor, and medicine. This economic imbalance has left farmers without earnings despite their year-long labor.
Government meetings have been held to address the marketing challenges of the citrus crop, but with limited success. The lack of effective solutions and the shifting of responsibilities among ministries have been reported. Economic and logistical challenges hinder the export of citrus, including high transportation costs, stringent border inspections, and unfavorable currency exchange policies. The reputation of Syrian citrus has also suffered due to instances of drug smuggling within citrus shipments.
Proposals for establishing a citrus juice factory in Latakia have not materialized, despite initial statements and licenses granted for such projects. Industry officials have argued that most of the coastal citrus crop is unsuitable for juicing, and existing juice production facilities have not significantly alleviated the surplus issue. The regulatory and financial environment in Syria poses additional obstacles to potential investors interested in developing juice factories or other solutions to utilize the excess citrus production.
Source: Enab Baladi