IDLIB: Syrian pomegranate farmers in the town of Darkush, in northwestern Idlib province near the Turkish border, are struggling to bring an expected strong harvest to market amid rising production and transportation costs, low prices and limited export opportunities.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the challenges are squeezing farmers’ incomes despite expectations of a good harvest this season.
Pomegranate cultivation is a key source of livelihood for farmers in Darkush, which lies in a valley in the Orontes River basin, at the foothills of the Syrian Coastal Mountain Range.
Farmers are calling for affordable agricultural supplies, cold storage facilities and access to new markets to help them sell their produce and improve their earnings.
Pomegranate orchards cover more than 250 hectares in Darkush, according to the local Agricultural Extension Division. The harvest of early varieties began in the second half of September, with production expected to be good this season.
Mohammad Dada, an agricultural supervisor at the Darkush Agricultural Extension Division, said field visits were being conducted to advise farmers on harvesting, packaging and controlling pests, including aphids and fungal diseases.
More than 70 per cent of farmers in the area depend on pomegranate cultivation, Dada said. However, current selling prices are insufficient to cover rising costs of pesticides, labour, packaging and transportation.
Producing one kilogramme of pomegranates costs around 50 Syrian pounds, equivalent to $0.41, he said, calling for subsidised fertilisers and pesticides to ease the financial burden on farmers.
Farmer Mohammad Sharif said pomegranate cultivation was deeply rooted in Darkush’s heritage. Some varieties are used to produce pomegranate molasses and juice, enabling producers to diversify their products and make better use of the harvest.
Farmer Nima Adeeb Nima said five main pomegranate varieties were grown in Darkush: Nab Al-Jamal, Asfouri, Al-Helu, Al-Laban and French. Early varieties are harvested from mid-September to early October.
However, limited export opportunities and restricted access to foreign markets have hurt sales, while domestic markets are unable to absorb the entire harvest, he said.
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Trader Samer Bakro said transportation costs, particularly fuel prices, had made it more expensive to ship pomegranates to Damascus and other provinces.
Renting a vehicle costs around $130, he said, adding that more export channels were needed to sell surplus produce, which also faces limited storage options.
Expanding export opportunities and improving storage facilities could help farmers and traders reduce losses, reach new markets and secure better returns from the harvest.