Syria Expands Greenhouse Farming with 175,000 Units
Syria has reached a total of 175,522 operational greenhouses, a development aimed at bolstering domestic agricultural output and ensuring the availability of produce outside of traditional harvest seasons. This expansion is designed to meet local market needs, maintain relative product stability, and support export opportunities to bring in foreign currency.
The Director of Plant Production at the Ministry of Agriculture announced that Tartus province leads the sector, housing 143,763 greenhouses, which accounts for 82 percent of the national total. Latakia province follows with 15,719 units (9 percent), and Homs ranks third with 13,706 units (8 percent). The remaining 1 percent of greenhouses are distributed across the other Syrian governorates.
In terms of crop variety, tomatoes lead production, occupying 87,121 greenhouses, representing approximately 50 percent of the total protected space. Strawberries hold the second position with 18,765 units (11 percent), followed by cucumbers with 17,701 units (10 percent). Eggplant and peppers are also significant, each accounting for 16,391 and 15,522 units respectively (9 percent each), while tropical crops are grown in 7,614 greenhouses (4 percent).
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that it provides technical and advisory support to farmers through its provincial agricultural directorates and extension units. This support spans the entire production cycle, from land preparation to harvest, including disease management and technical troubleshooting. Furthermore, the Ministry allows farmers to access services via the Fund for Mitigation of Drought and Natural Disaster Effects, which assists when crops suffer significant damage from events such as storms or water spouts.
Despite the sector’s importance, farmers face substantial challenges, including rising costs for equipment and production inputs, price volatility during peak seasons, limitations in international marketing, and climatic risks. The Ministry is currently working on future plans to enhance exports through international contracts, regulate imports, and develop the skills of technical staff.
To further advance the industry, the Ministry disclosed a cooperation initiative with Turkey to transfer modern greenhouse technologies. These techniques are set to be applied in the provinces of Tartus, Latakia, and Idlib, with the primary goal of increasing production efficiency and improving the economic viability for local farmers.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
