Updated 24 min 37 sec ago
October 12, 2026 21:19
The Syrian Arab Republic is rehabilitating date palm plantations and boosting production in eastern Deir Ezzor province, where farmers, researchers, and agricultural organizations convened on Sunday for the third Deir Ezzor Date Exhibition.
Organized by the Agriculture Directorate in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the event took place at the Date Palm Propagation Center in Al-Jalaa, Al-Bukamal countryside, under the slogan “Our Dates: A National Wealth and Rural Development.”
Ahmad Jalal Ahmad, representing the agriculture minister in eastern Syria, noted that Al-Jalaa is renowned for its high-quality date varieties, though its plantation has suffered from neglect and encroachment.
Rehabilitation efforts, led by the UN organization and private-sector investors, aim to expand green areas, extend date palm cultivation into the steppe, and improve the quality and marketability of dates, he said.
Mohammad Al‑Jassem, director of the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Deir Ezzor, said the center cultivates eight date palm varieties, including two newly introduced Omani varieties. Approximately 60 participants from the center, the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands, and UN‑supported farmer field schools are participating in the exhibition.
Shahira Ashawi of the American Relief Fund said the organization has invested in the Al‑Jalaa plantation for 15 years, and its participation seeks to connect with farmers, provide modern date-palm pollination equipment, and share practical expertise, she said.
Farmer Mahmoud Al‑Mohammad of Al‑Bukamal displayed kabkab, barhi, and khalas dates, noting that the exhibition provides farmers with a chance to showcase their produce and exchange experience.
Farmer Abdul Razzaq Hanshoul called for increased support for date palm cultivation, which he said has declined in recent years.
According to Agriculture Ministry statistics, Syria had 146,800 date palm trees in 2024, of which 49,300 were fruit-bearing. Annual production over the past decade has ranged between 1,500 and 4,000 tonnes.
