Administration distributes improved types of wheat to farmers in Syria’s Raqqa
RAQQA, Syria (north Press) – The Seed Propagation Corporation of the Agriculture Committee, affiliated with the Raqqa Civil Council (RCC), recently started distributing improved wheat seeds to farmers in preparation for the next season.
The corporation distributes the seeds according to the schedules supplied to it by the heads of agricultural associations. The wheat license for this year has been set at 70 percent of the irrigated land.
The only existing center of the corporation is located in Kabsh silo, 35 km north of Raqqa.
Muhammad al-Mousa, an administrator at the Seed Propagation Corporation, said in an interview with North Press that the distribution process began early this month, and quantities of between 4000 and 5000 tons of improved wheat seeds were distributed to farmers.
Al-Mousa said, “3.5 kg of wheat has been allocated per hectare, which is distributed to farmers at a price of 360 Syrian pounds (SYP), and this subsidized price is to encourage agriculture.”
“The seeds that are being distributed are among the improved types that are suitable for the region’s environment, both soft and hard wheat, including Cham 3, Cham 7, Bohouth 11, Bohouth 9, Douma 1 and Douma 4.” he added.
According to al-Mousa, the Seed Propagation Corporation witnessed a great turnout by farmers to receive seeds for this year compared to last year, “due to the availability of new varieties of seeds that were not available previously”.
He said that the seeds were distributed this year to all areas in the Euphrates region, such as Kobani, Tabqa, Manbij and Ain Issa, in addition to Raqqa.
Abd Kenj Barakat, head of the Helou Association, said that this is a positive step by the Agriculture Committee and will make it easier for farmers to cultivate their lands.
“I received seeds for SYP 360 per kilo, while it is sold in the market for more than SYP 400 per kilo, and the wheat that is distributed to farmers is of high quality.”
The irrigated land in the Helou Association is 130 hectares, of which 100 hectares have been licensed for cultivation with wheat. Barakat pointed out that distributing improved seeds to farmers would improve productivity and thus encourage agriculture in the area.
“We have been cultivating, during the past years, varieties of an unknown source, and the productivity of farmers was uneven.”
Barakat stressed the need to further support the agricultural sector in the city of Raqqa, as it is the main driver of the economy in the city.