OA in Syria:

INTRODUCTION:

Until now, Syria does not actually apply the system of organic agriculture, although there are some individual attempts. In spite of the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture applies Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs on citrus and olive to minimize pesticides use to create clean product through spreading of natural and biological enemies for citrus pests, and distribute fermon traps. This is in addition to extension, seminars and interviews with farmers to raise their awareness and consequently decrease the use of pesticides in fields.
In Syria, there has been a growing interest shown by some scientists, farmers, trade operators and the Syrian Government in organic agriculture.
The project "Institutional Development of Organic Agriculture in Syria" has been recently launched to achieve the following objectives: (i) Elaboration of a national legal framework defining organic farming in accordance with international standards and regulations; (ii) Proposal for the organization of a certification body; (iii) Identification and development of organic markets; (iv) Elaboration and initial implementation of an articulated research program; and (v) Training of technicians, researchers and leader farmers.
In Syria, there is 29 organic olive farm, one organic grape farm, and 3226 organic cotton farm licensed and inspected by foreign companies.

REGULATORY ASPECTS:

There is no national legislation related to this form of agriculture. The available data was made by some interested scientists in the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) aiming to collect data on organic farming and methods of its development.
There is no local certification body for organic farming. Organic farms in Syria are inspected and certified by foreign inspectors related to foreign licensed company.
Minister of Agriculture issued Decision no /2852/W.L identifies clean agricultural products according to IPM programs. In addition, the decision includes standards and principles required to approve, inspect, and license these products and its approved logo.

INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS:

Farms number: 3256
Total area: 28461 ha.
Products: olive (olive oil), grape, cotton
This table shows the certified organic areas

Product	Area (ha.)	Quantity (t)
Olive	570	670 & 156 oil
Grape	10	1700
Cotton	27881	32063.4

The aim of organic production of these products is to be exported abroad.

The following table shows the areas that are under conversion into organic agriculture system

Product	Area (ha)	Conversion year
Olive	100	2007
Cotton	1931.3	2007

MARKETING ASPECTS:

With regard to olive and grape, the producing company shall undertake the task of marketing these products. On the other hand, the Government contracted a Dutch company to take care of the processes of certification and marketing of organic cotton.
Export: /1302/ tons of organic cotton shall be exported with a price that is higher than the local price by about 30%.
Import: Syria does not import organic products.

RESEARCH, TRAINING AND EXPANSION:

The Ministry of Agriculture represented by GCSAR will implement some of small studies and researches on different aspects of organic farming (production systems, organic fertilizer, organic control…etc).
This is in addition to some training activities for technicians to disseminate knowledge and information about organic farming and production systems.
Moreover, university (Faculty of Agriculture) shall implement some of these experiments through postgraduate, M.Sc., PhD studies.
Five research programs on different aspects of organic farming shall be executed in GCSAR through activities of the project "Institutional Development of Organic Agriculture in Syria"