Key Highlights:
I.    There was a significant increase in transportation fees for food commodities, agricultural products and agricultural inputs, most notably for the shipment of greenhouse-produced fresh vegetables from the coastal area. This is due to the newly set arrangement of providing transportation vehicles with diesel fuel at the non-subsidized price of 11 880 SYP/litre, including the limited eligibility of subsidized diesel fuel for public transportation vehicles and agricultural tractors.
II.    The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) announced that the need for urea fertilizer for wheat production in this winter cropping season is 100 thousand tons. At least 50 thousand tons of urea fertilizer has already been imported through the port with internal procurement from the public fertilizer factory in Homs set to cover an additional estimated 29 thousand tons.
III.    Severe weather conditions affected agricultural production in the coastal areas during this reporting period, specifically Tartous governorate. The adverse weather was characterized by cyclones and floods that destroyed hundreds of greenhouses which were planted with different types of fresh vegetables.
IV.    Only 30 628 hectares of legumes have been planted for the 2023 - 2024 winter cropping season, and this is below the cultivation plan of 106 000 hectares set for legumes. The legumes include fava beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas. On the other hand, 15 892 tons of cotton have been received by official entities and the plan is to plant 14 419 hectares for the 2024 summer season.