Syrian Arab Republic

The Syrian Arab Republic has a robust 3 049 per capita daily caloric intake, and agriculture composes 24 percent of the nation’s gross national product. Yet 10 percent of children suffer from undernourishment and thus are underweight, while 22 percent exhibit stunted growth.

FAO's main in-country programmes

Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS)
The programme’s objectives included demonstrating and training farmers on available options for efficient water allocation and appropriate irrigation technology and practices. The outputs included appropriate irrigation technology, which were introduced and demonstrated on 34 farms while 91 hectares were equipped with modern irrigation networks in four provinces. Additionally, 800 beneficiary farmers and 70 technicians received irrigation methodology training. Suitable crop varieties were selected for cultivation in a sequence that would preserve soil fertility, increase agricultural production and productivity and facilitate provision of agricultural services.

National Programme for Food Security (NPFS)
The ministry of agriculture asked for FAO technical assistance in formulating an NPFS in 2008, which could be a platform for achieving food security at both local and national levels. The deputy minister for agriculture and agrarian reform chaired a formulation workshop for the programme in 2009. 

Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animals and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) - Animal Health Component
Syria has never reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)/H5N1 outbreaks. However the country has been benefiting from five regional projects aiming primarily at the prevention of the disease. Under these projects, Syria benefited from technical assistance in updating and finalizing the national contingency plan for prevention and control of avian influenza as well as in-service and overseas laboratory training, procurement of laboratory and veterinary supplies and equipment, national workshops as well as a number of technical advisory and supervisory backstopping missions.

In recent years, Syria has officially reported anthrax, rabies and brucellosis.  Brucellosis in Syria and in neighbouring countries is widespread in animals and humans causing a constant threat for public health. The Association for Applied Human Pharmacology (AGAH) developed a regional concept note for controlling small ruminant diseases namely brucellosis, peste des petits ruminants as well as sheep pox/goat pox. Syria’s last outbreak was officially declared in 1983 and the country is awaiting its officially free status. FAO, through the Global Rinderpest Eradication Program, is currently assisting Syria on the rinderpest dossier formulation for the World Organization for Animal Health and official recognition is expected in 2010.

National Medium Term Priority Framework (NMTPF)
Syria’s NMPTF, which is under development in the ministry of agriculture with FAO assistance will include, as far as animal health is concerned, activities such as strengthening surveillance and control of transboundary animal diseases and priority zoonoses, upgrading the quality control for animal food residues and strengthening veterinary extension services.

EMPRES Desert Locust Component
As Syria is not a front-line country for desert locust, the country did not participate in the EMPRES (Desert Locust Component) Programme in the Central Region (CR). However, it benefited indirectly from EMPRES in terms of reduced risk of being affected by locust invasions and through participation in training activities and workshops organized jointly by EMPRES and the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC), of which Syria is a member. When donor support to EMPRES-CR ended in December 2006, programme activities were handed over to the CRC to ensure sustainability of preventive desert locust management. Syria participates in the CRC meetings and activities and is provided with monthly bulletins on locust situation and other publications. Additionally with CRC’s support a student from Syria graduated with a Desert Locust Management Diploma in the University of Khartoum in 2008 and conducted post-graduate research on biopesticide in Sudan.

last updated: 31 July 2011