13 May 2003
To ensure food security for its growing population, the Government of Syria is focusing on food self sufficiency strategy, improved crop production technology, and crop diversification . In this respect potato, date palm and sunflower which feature low productivity due to problems associated with sanitation or proper technologies for massive production of healthy planting material are among many crops identified as candidates for further introduction of applied technologies to either promote their productivity to higher levels and / or expand in their cultivation in suitable areas in the country.
Potato is grown in about 22,500 ha producing 462,000 tons at an average yield of 30.4 t/ha . Syria does not produce potato seed of its own. It imports every year, according to official sources, class " E" seed ( elite pr basic seed) potatoes from Europe at a cost of about 6 million USD . This creates a financial burden on Syria 's balance of payments , puts a limit to the potato cultivated area and has a high risk of introducing new diseases and pests in the country.
At present, the total number of palm trees is estimated at 200,00 most of which are located in Palmyra oasis. The present annual date fruit production of about 3500 T falls short of the population demands estimated at about 200,000 tons . Furthermore, date palm offshoots are improved at a high cost and the process could lead, if not controlled , to the spread of diseases and pests .
Major problems faced in date palm massive reproduction are: lack of tissue culture facilities, use vegetative offshoots for propagation , absence of applied technologies for date palm molecular biology , identification of local varieties , and lack of laboratory equipment and qualified staff.
The area under sunflower crop, in Syria, is limited . Almost entire quantity of sunflower oil, used for culinary and confectionery purposes , its being imported at enormous cost . The small area under this crop in the country depends on imported seed or on use of F2 or other advanced generations of the hybrid seed resulting in poor yields .
The work on sunflower variety improvement started about 5 years back but with little success. Trials with imported hybrid sunflower varieties have been conducted but in absence of their parental lines for seed production indigenously , no further progress can be made .
The necessary infrastructure facilities for variety improvement , maintenance and breeder seed production are also lacking.
To address the problems of the above crops, the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian reform, requested FAO technical and financial assistance . As a response to the request, a project on " seed Potato and date palm seedlings production through tissue culture", was approved by FAO Technical Cooperation Program. The project objectives were : strengthening local capacity for efficient, cost effective and tissue culture based production of virus free seed potatoes ; preparing a plan for establishment of a tissue culture mass propagation facility for date palm and assessing constraints and preparing a comprehensive draft project document for sunflower seed production.
The implementation of the above project took place since 1999 in close collaboration between International experts, local Institutions ( General Organization for Seed Multiplication, Ministry of Agriculture and the General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research) and national consultants and FAO. The project will terminate its activities during the current year .
The following outputs/ result were achieved : Concerning Potato , the project furnished a solid foundation, for seed potato production in Syria, set the basis for producing virus- free potato seed production system, Introduced procedures for the use of physiologically mature seed through a new seed cycle, studied aphid ) known to transmit main potato virus and virus- like disease) population dynamic which is essential for identifying locations for disease free potato seed production, set- up standards of certification for potato seed in Syria, developed human resource by arranging overseas training for local scientists in potato seed production; organized in- country training for technicians, professionals, and farmers, provided guidelines for setting up a National Potato Board to take care of the potato crop in the country, and strengthened infrastructure and laboratory equipment facilities in the General Organization for Seed Multiplication , and produced manuals of various laboratory and field techniques.
The project managed to provide tubers of right physiological age at the time of planting. For the first time, the farmers engaged in local seed production under the project, harvested 50- 55 tons per hectare yield in spring 2002, as against 28- 30 tons per hectare by them from imported elite seed in past years. These high yields from locally produced seed were partly because of physiologically superior stage of the seed at the time of planting as also due to its better health standard .
The project established also seed certification standards which are necessary to monitor the quality of seed crop, and to ensure true to type and healthy seed with high vigor and productivity .
A plan for annual production of about 40,000 tons of good quality potato seed was prepared and the activities of seed production were set in a time frame. During implementation of the plan, the production targets in all stages of seed multiplication were exceeded . During year 2002, about 100 tons of super elite ( pre- basic) seed and about 300 tons of Elite ( basic) seed were produced in the spring crop.
More material was available in the pipelines for seed production in autumn crop.
In conclusion, the FAO project solved major problems preventing the development of a successful national program for potato seed production and proved the way for the availability of quantities required by consumers all throughout the year.
The project on date palm reviewed the ongoing program on date palm, availability of qualified manpower and facilities at various date palm production centers, identified problems encountered in micro- propagation and acclimatization of tissue culture derived seedlings , made suggestions and provided protocols on laboratory activities and acclimatization process. A project document on " Date palm development program" was prepared for the development of date palm in the country and insuring the planting of 3-5 million date palm trees during the next 15- 20 years ". The proposed project addresses the social and economic situation in the development areas and designed to contribute to the generation of employment for the local people in rural areas. Efforts are now required to identify potential donors for the implementation of this project.
As for sunflower, the project reviewed the current situation of the sunflower production in Syria, assessed the needs and identified the constraints preventing the development of national project .
A draft project document on " Strengthening of sustainable sunflower production through improved seed production program" has, therefore, been prepared for submission to the Government of Syria for Consideration .
The proposed project envisages to raise the standard of sunflower seed development technology through capacity building , strengthen the sunflower crop improvement and seed production systems , develop improved varieties of sunflower locally for introduction and further multiplication, set up facility to produce breeder foundation and certified seed, and organize commercial seed production involving farmers.
To ensure food security for its growing population, the Government of Syria is focusing on food self sufficiency strategy, improved crop production technology, and crop diversification . In this respect potato, date palm and sunflower which feature low productivity due to problems associated with sanitation or proper technologies for massive production of healthy planting material are among many crops identified as candidates for further introduction of applied technologies to either promote their productivity to higher levels and / or expand in their cultivation in suitable areas in the country.
Potato is grown in about 22,500 ha producing 462,000 tons at an average yield of 30.4 t/ha . Syria does not produce potato seed of its own. It imports every year, according to official sources, class " E" seed ( elite pr basic seed) potatoes from Europe at a cost of about 6 million USD . This creates a financial burden on Syria 's balance of payments , puts a limit to the potato cultivated area and has a high risk of introducing new diseases and pests in the country.
At present, the total number of palm trees is estimated at 200,00 most of which are located in Palmyra oasis. The present annual date fruit production of about 3500 T falls short of the population demands estimated at about 200,000 tons . Furthermore, date palm offshoots are improved at a high cost and the process could lead, if not controlled , to the spread of diseases and pests .
Major problems faced in date palm massive reproduction are: lack of tissue culture facilities, use vegetative offshoots for propagation , absence of applied technologies for date palm molecular biology , identification of local varieties , and lack of laboratory equipment and qualified staff.
The area under sunflower crop, in Syria, is limited . Almost entire quantity of sunflower oil, used for culinary and confectionery purposes , its being imported at enormous cost . The small area under this crop in the country depends on imported seed or on use of F2 or other advanced generations of the hybrid seed resulting in poor yields .
The work on sunflower variety improvement started about 5 years back but with little success. Trials with imported hybrid sunflower varieties have been conducted but in absence of their parental lines for seed production indigenously , no further progress can be made .
The necessary infrastructure facilities for variety improvement , maintenance and breeder seed production are also lacking.
To address the problems of the above crops, the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian reform, requested FAO technical and financial assistance . As a response to the request, a project on " seed Potato and date palm seedlings production through tissue culture", was approved by FAO Technical Cooperation Program. The project objectives were : strengthening local capacity for efficient, cost effective and tissue culture based production of virus free seed potatoes ; preparing a plan for establishment of a tissue culture mass propagation facility for date palm and assessing constraints and preparing a comprehensive draft project document for sunflower seed production.
The implementation of the above project took place since 1999 in close collaboration between International experts, local Institutions ( General Organization for Seed Multiplication, Ministry of Agriculture and the General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research) and national consultants and FAO. The project will terminate its activities during the current year .
The following outputs/ result were achieved : Concerning Potato , the project furnished a solid foundation, for seed potato production in Syria, set the basis for producing virus- free potato seed production system, Introduced procedures for the use of physiologically mature seed through a new seed cycle, studied aphid ) known to transmit main potato virus and virus- like disease) population dynamic which is essential for identifying locations for disease free potato seed production, set- up standards of certification for potato seed in Syria, developed human resource by arranging overseas training for local scientists in potato seed production; organized in- country training for technicians, professionals, and farmers, provided guidelines for setting up a National Potato Board to take care of the potato crop in the country, and strengthened infrastructure and laboratory equipment facilities in the General Organization for Seed Multiplication , and produced manuals of various laboratory and field techniques.
The project managed to provide tubers of right physiological age at the time of planting. For the first time, the farmers engaged in local seed production under the project, harvested 50- 55 tons per hectare yield in spring 2002, as against 28- 30 tons per hectare by them from imported elite seed in past years. These high yields from locally produced seed were partly because of physiologically superior stage of the seed at the time of planting as also due to its better health standard .
The project established also seed certification standards which are necessary to monitor the quality of seed crop, and to ensure true to type and healthy seed with high vigor and productivity .
A plan for annual production of about 40,000 tons of good quality potato seed was prepared and the activities of seed production were set in a time frame. During implementation of the plan, the production targets in all stages of seed multiplication were exceeded . During year 2002, about 100 tons of super elite ( pre- basic) seed and about 300 tons of Elite ( basic) seed were produced in the spring crop.
More material was available in the pipelines for seed production in autumn crop.
In conclusion, the FAO project solved major problems preventing the development of a successful national program for potato seed production and proved the way for the availability of quantities required by consumers all throughout the year.
The project on date palm reviewed the ongoing program on date palm, availability of qualified manpower and facilities at various date palm production centers, identified problems encountered in micro- propagation and acclimatization of tissue culture derived seedlings , made suggestions and provided protocols on laboratory activities and acclimatization process. A project document on " Date palm development program" was prepared for the development of date palm in the country and insuring the planting of 3-5 million date palm trees during the next 15- 20 years ". The proposed project addresses the social and economic situation in the development areas and designed to contribute to the generation of employment for the local people in rural areas. Efforts are now required to identify potential donors for the implementation of this project.
As for sunflower, the project reviewed the current situation of the sunflower production in Syria, assessed the needs and identified the constraints preventing the development of national project .
A draft project document on " Strengthening of sustainable sunflower production through improved seed production program" has, therefore, been prepared for submission to the Government of Syria for Consideration .
The proposed project envisages to raise the standard of sunflower seed development technology through capacity building , strengthen the sunflower crop improvement and seed production systems , develop improved varieties of sunflower locally for introduction and further multiplication, set up facility to produce breeder foundation and certified seed, and organize commercial seed production involving farmers.
Tomader Fateh
© Syria Times 2003
