DAMASCUS - Syria's production of pistachio exceeded 63 thousand tons for the current season, Head of Pistachio Office at the Ministry of Agriculture Eng. Hassan Ibrahim said.
Syria ranked third in the world in producing pistachio and first in the high quality, taste and benefits of its pistachio production.
In a statement to SANA, Ibrahim said that Hama Governorate came first in producing pistachio and second after Aleppo in the number of trees, adding that pistachio is used in different industries such as ice cream and sweets.
Regarding Syria's pistachio exports, he said that the total has reached more than 10 thousand tons up till now.
Pistachio trees constitute 6% of fruit trees in Syria covering an area of 56,000 hectares. They are mainly distributed throughout Aleppo, Hama, Idleb, Damascus Countryside, Raqqa and Sweida.
The number of pistachio trees in Syria is estimated at 10 million.
© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2011
