SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

Ministry of Agriculture and

Agrarian Reform
National Agricultural Policy
Center
Tenth Five-Year-Plan
2006-2010
and the Strategic Role of Agriculture
by
Atieh El Hindi
Director
NAPC
International Workshop ,Damascus 1-2/7/2008
Introduction
5-year-plan approach started in the 60s
Plans were designed in compliance with the
general political, social, and economic
orientations.
Before 1985, planning was central.
Starting from the 6
th
5-year-plan (1986-1990)
indicative planning was adopted.
The 10
th
5-year-plan was designed according to
the social market economy approach.
General objectives of the 5-year-plans
enhancing the contribution of the agricultural sector in
the GDP
improving the living conditions and ensuring the supply
of affordable food commodities
reducing the living standard gap between the rural and
urban areas;
increasing self sufficiency in terms of main staples
enhancing integration between the agricultural sector
and the other economic sectors;
Ensuring the supply of raw materials for local industries
and of export surplus
actions taken before the design of the
10th 5-year-plan
Agricultural policy document endorsed by
the cabinet.
Analysis of current situation (1992-2003).
Objectives: enhance strengths, avoid
weaknesses, identify challenges.
: Analysis of the current situation indicated
Main strengths:
Increase of the irrigated area
Achievement of self sufficiency in terms
of strategic crops
Increase of agricultural production value by 5%
Increase of per capita share of food
commodities
Development of rural infra structure
Development of agricultural services
Main weaknesses
Decreasing fertility
Shortage of underground water accompanied with low
conversion to modern irrigation systems
Deterioration of natural grazing areas in Al Badia
Holding fragmentation
Incompatibility of applied rules and regulations
Mismatch between the marketing and export activities
and the production increase.
Challenges facing the agricultural
sector
Limited natural resources.
Rapid growth rate.
Land fragmentation.
Limited financial resources.
Fragmentation of responsibilities.
Subsidies offered by the main producing
countries.
Macroeconomic policies problems.
plan - year - th five 10 General objectives of the
1. Development of agricultural production and
increase of economic growth rates
plant production increase and provision of inputs
Livestock production increase and provision of inputs
Promotion of vertical development and cost reduction
2. Improvement of natural resources use
Land management improved programmes
Irrigation water management and conservation
Natural pastors management improvement
Forest development, investment and
conservation
3. Development of agricultural marketing and
processing
Development of local and external marketing
Enhancement of agricultural processing
Motivating local and foreign investment in agricultural
marketing and processing
4. Modernization of production means and
technology transfer
Design clear agricultural research strategy
Enhance the role of extension and supply required
inputs
Improve agricultural education
Training of human resources
5. Development of the banking and credit system
Review credit policies
Improve credit processing
Enhance the use of credits for modern
technology transfer
6. Timely provision of good quality inputs
Allowing all sector to contribute to input
provision and maintain the state control role.
7. Adoption of price policies
Maintain central pricing of strategic crops
according to their importance for food security and
export.
Price new feasible crops to promote their
production.
Design practical agricultural subsidy programme
8. Adopt structural changes capable of meeting
modernization requirements
Restructure agriculture-related institutions
Issue or modify agricultural legislation
Enhance cooperation with Arab, regional and
international organization
investments allocated to achieve above mentioned objectives
Investment plan defined
Service and development projects designed
Allocations for agriculture and irrigation are as
follows:

Projects that have allocations in the 10
th
5-year-plan

- MAAR
Unit: million SP
Ongoing
projects
MAAR (Central Administration) 38760
GCSAR 8000
Real Estate General Department 2000
Al Ghab Development and Investment
Commission
2000
Establishments 1630
Total 52390
New projects
Conversion to Modern Irrigation Fund 22000
7 new projects studies 7
New projects 8178
Total 30185
Grand Total 82575
Projects that have allocations in the 10th 5-year-plan

- Ministry of Irrigation
Unit: million SP

Renewal and replacement
projects
General Commissions for Water
Resources
7570
Establishments
6114
Ongoing projects
Ministry of Irrigation (Central
Administration)
Ministry Premises
100
General Commissions for Water
Resources
34245.5
Establishments
35384.5
New planned projects
Ministry of Irrigation (Central
Administration)
37
General Commissions for Water
Resources
485
General Establishment for Land
Reclamation
7192
Grand Total 91128
Vision of the Strategic Role of Agriculture
Due to the importance of the agriculture
strategic role in the provision of food and
its contribution to GDP, its role will be
enhanced by:
Review of the 10
th
5-year-plan and assess its
implementation
Start the design of 2025 strategy with the
support of UNDP according to the following
indicators:
1. Optimal use of natural resources, sustainability,
participatory approach.
2. Achieving food security and production according to
comparative advantage and competitive advantage.
3. Achieve economic growth rates that exceed population
growth rates.
4. Achieve an agricultural export surplus that meets
international specifications.
5. Create appropriate agricultural production and processing
investment environment.
6. Plant less water consuming and more feasible crops.
7. Enhance rural income generation activities.
8. Activate agricultural research, extension and education.
9. Fund development and production investments.
10.Enforce capacity building.
11.Achieve compliance between local legislation and
international trends.
Thank you