Farmers in the town of Basouta in the Afrin region of northern Aleppo have begun harvesting the current season's pomegranate crop, recording significant improvements in quality and quantities, despite the sector facing major challenges related to transport costs and marketing difficulties. Farmer Mohammed Hassan Awno told SANA correspondent on Tuesday that heavy rains experienced in the region during the season, along with the renewed utilization of water from the Midanki Dam, directly contributed to improving fruit quality and increasing quantities. He noted that the harvesting stage is an important milestone eagerly awaited by farmers after months of hard work and exceptional care for the trees to ensure crop quality.
Varieties and soil characteristics
Awno explained that Basouta is known for producing several pomegranate varieties, including sour, sweet, laban, and French types, noting that the region's soil nature gives the pomegranate crop unique characteristics that distinguish it from production in other areas. For his part, Basouta village head Rasoul Khalil pointed out that the harvesting season usually begins in October, after the completion of fruit growth stages and care and irrigation of the trees, with harvesting done in batches until the crop is complete. Khalil added that farmers direct part of the production to markets for fresh sale, while using another part to make pomegranate molasses, noting that the benefit from the crop is not limited to the fruits alone.
Marketing challenges and utilization of by-products
Awno pointed out that marketing difficulties and lack of distribution channels constitute a major obstacle to selling the crop, as a large part of the pomegranate was previously exported to Iraq, but shipping difficulties and economic conditions negatively affected sales activity. He noted that farmers have begun utilizing other parts of the crop, especially pomegranate peel, which is used for heating, in addition to using pomegranate molasses in food. Khalil clarified that the utilization extends to seeds, which are used in animal feed, while the pomegranate crop is a seasonal agricultural crop relied upon by farmers in northern Syria, with marketing difficulties and transport costs emerging as the main challenges facing producers during the season.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)