Syria, Saudi Mission Sign Deal on Farm Input Imports

Syria's Minister of Agriculture, Basel Sweidan, and the Saudi charge d'affaires in Syria, Saleh Abdullah al-Harith, signed a decision to align procedures for registering, importing and circulating agricultural production inputs that are registered or licensed and legally traded in Saudi Arabia. The decision falls within a broader work plan aimed at improving production quality and expanding access to essential agricultural inputs.

Scope of the Decision

The decision covers a range of agricultural inputs, including:

• Veterinary vaccines and medicines and animal health products
• Fertilizers and soil conditioners
• Pesticides and plant protection materials

The decision aims to regulate mechanisms for benefiting from products already circulating in the Saudi market, while ensuring they meet approved technical and regulatory requirements.

Tractor Supply Agreement

Alongside the inputs decision, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, and two local companies to secure additional agricultural tractors across the country.

The bank's director general, Ahmad al-Zahri, told Al-Watan that such agreements would activate the bank's work across its 106 branches spread throughout Syrian governorates, in addition to meeting farmers' needs for tractors, particularly after the country faced a significant shortage in the quantity and quality of agricultural production inputs of all kinds.

Expected Impact on the Sector

These steps are expected to support the supply of essential inputs for the agricultural and livestock sectors, particularly in animal health, crop protection, and improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity, as well as expanding the options available to farmers and breeders.