Mohammed Youssef Al-Miqdad, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Policy and Rural Development Affairs, confirmed that the Ministry is working on developing agricultural policies and enhancing value chains, contributing to supporting farmers, improving production, and strengthening the agricultural sector's capacity to face economic, logistical, and climate challenges.
Al-Miqdad stated in an interview with SANA on Thursday that efforts are underway to reframe agricultural policies, including support and financing policies, and updating the legislative frameworks regulating the sector, with the aim of improving the production reality and enhancing farmers' ability to overcome the difficulties they face.
Al-Miqdad clarified that the new agricultural policies focus on supporting smallholder farmers and enhancing the integration of agricultural producers into local and international markets, thereby improving marketing opportunities for agricultural products and raising production efficiency.
He pointed out that the Ministry is working on developing pricing and marketing policies, and updating agricultural education and extension policies, to help farmers improve production methods and adapt to the changes witnessed by the sector.
Managing water resources and facing climate changes
Al-Miqdad mentioned that developing agricultural policies also includes managing water resources and mitigating the effects of climate changes, as these are key files to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production and preserve natural resources.
He confirmed that the Ministry is working on addressing files related to the sector in an integrated manner, which supports the interests of farmers and the state, enhances agricultural and rural development, and provides appropriate conditions for developing production and improving agricultural investment opportunities.
It is worth noting that agricultural value chains include all the integrated stages and activities that agricultural products go through, from the farm to the final consumer, with each stage adding new value to the product.
Last Monday, the Agricultural Investment and Trade Forum for Value Chains of Priority Commodities in Syria was held in Damascus, organized by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development and the Islamic Corporation for the Financing of International Trade, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, to discuss opportunities for developing agricultural value chains and enhancing investment and trade in priority commodities.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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