Damascus, SANA- General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research focuses its national strategy on increasing agricultural production and improving its quality, as well as developing new crop varieties resistant to climate change and pests, particularly wheat.

Since its establishment in the 1970s, the commission has conducted field trials and applied research to meet food security requirements and enhance wheat production. It has introduced high-yield varieties of soft wheat for both irrigated and rain-fed farming, such as “Mexipak” and “City Serus “according to Dr. Osama al-Abdullah, Director General of the commission.

He noted that the commission collaborates with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) to develop new varieties using modern techniques. He emphasized that Syria has historically been known for wheat production due to its favorable natural environment and climate.

According to al-Abdullah, the Agricultural Research Authority studies more than 6,000 wheat strains annually, evaluating them based on productivity indicators, disease resistance, and technological quality. It conducts approximately 500 field experiments per year in irrigated and rain-fed environments within the first and second agricultural stability zones.

To date, the authority has developed 24 wheat varieties, both soft and durum, tailored to the climatic conditions of each region. The latest varieties have achieved high productivity levels: 8 tons per hectare in irrigated areas, 4.3 tons per hectare in the first stability zone, and 2.1 tons per hectare in the second stability zone—a 47% increase compared to older varieties. Farmers have quickly adopted these new varieties, thanks to collaboration with the General Organization for Seed Multiplication, which ensures their production, screening, and sanitization according to technical standards.

Current varieties cultivated in irrigated regions include soft wheat types (Bohouth 6, Bohouth 4, Bohouth 8, Sham 10, Sham 4) and durum wheat types (Sham 7, Bohouth 9), with productivity ranging from 6 to 8 tons per hectare.

Al-Abdullah explained that the soft wheat variety “Sham 12” was approved for rain-fed farming in the second stability zone in 2024, with an average yield of 2,337 kg per hectare. It is resistant to lodging and drought. The durum wheat variety “Sham 11” was approved for irrigated farming in 2023, yielding an average of 6,306 kg per hectare, with high stability and moderate resistance to yellow rust. In 2022, the durum wheat variety “Douma 5” was approved for rain-fed farming in the second stability zone, yielding 2,231 kg per hectare and demonstrating strong drought resistance.

Additionally, the commission has developed two promising durum wheat strains designated for irrigated farming. They feature high productivity and good disease resistance and are now in the final approval stages.

This season has experienced severe drought, significantly affecting agricultural crops, especially rain-fed ones. According to Al-Abdullah, crops in the first and second stability zones could not complete their growth cycle, leading to a total absence of production and the conversion of farmland into grazing areas. In irrigated zones, production was limited, ranging from 200 to 400 kg per dunum, depending on the number of irrigation cycles and farmers’ adherence to technical protocols.

To address these challenges, the commission has conducted comprehensive trials across all approved varieties in different environments to assess their performance under changing climatic conditions. It has adopted rapid breeding techniques to accelerate genetic improvements and develop varieties more resistant to drought, salinity, heat, and diseases while enhancing grain quality.

al-Abdullah emphasized that ensuring high-quality wheat production requires timely availability of production inputs at reasonable prices, fair purchasing prices for farmers, adherence to approved varieties for each agricultural environment, implementation of agricultural cycles, and full compliance with technical packages. He also stressed the importance of field surveys to accurately diagnose farmers’ challenges and provide technical solutions through agricultural extension programs, workshops, field days, support for modern irrigation projects, and necessary financial assistance.

Manar Salameh