Syria Expands Greenhouse Farming, Led by Tartus Region
The total number of operational greenhouses in Syria has reached 175,522, a development aimed at enhancing agricultural production and ensuring the availability of crops outside of their traditional seasons. These greenhouse operations are designed to meet local market needs, stabilize product availability, and support export opportunities to bring in foreign currency.
The Director of Plant Production at the Ministry of Agriculture stated that Tartus province leads the sector, housing 143,763 greenhouses, which accounts for 82 percent of the national total. Latakia province follows in second place with 15,719 greenhouses (9 percent), and Homs ranks third with 13,706 greenhouses (8 percent). The remaining 1 percent of greenhouses are distributed across the other Syrian provinces.
Regarding crop distribution, tomatoes lead production with 87,121 greenhouses, representing approximately 50 percent of the total protected cultivation area. Strawberries rank second with 18,765 greenhouses (11 percent), followed by cucumbers with 17,701 greenhouses (10 percent). Other crops include eggplant with 16,391 greenhouses and peppers with 15,052 greenhouses, each representing 9 percent of the sector. Additionally, 7,614 greenhouses are dedicated to tropical crops, accounting for 4 percent of the total.
The Ministry of Agriculture provides technical and advisory support to farmers through its regional agricultural directorates and extension units. This support covers production stages from land preparation to harvest, as well as addressing disease and technical challenges. Furthermore, the ministry allows farmers to access services from the “Drought and Natural Disaster Relief Fund” to mitigate losses from events such as storms or sea spouts.
Despite the sector’s importance, farmers face significant challenges, including high costs for greenhouse equipment and production inputs, price fluctuations during peak seasons, limited external marketing, and climate-related risks. The ministry is currently developing future plans focused on boosting exports through external contracts, regulating imports, and enhancing the skills of technical staff.
As part of its development efforts, the ministry has also announced a collaboration with the Turkish side to transfer modern greenhouse technologies. This initiative will be implemented in the provinces of Tartus, Latakia, and Idlib, with the objective of increasing production efficiency and improving economic returns for farmers.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
