Ministry of Agriculture Strategy 2026-2030.

The National Agriculture Strategy, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, is a sectoral framework aimed at establishing a sustainable, technology-driven agricultural sector that supports food, water, and economic security while improving rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability. It emphasizes genuine recovery through increased production, promoting competitive export-oriented agriculture to reduce the trade deficit, and expanding into new international markets with an active role for the private sector. The Ministry considers long-term strategies beyond five years too uncertain because policies and priorities may change as the country continues to develop. Instead, it will implement a flexible strategy through successive five-year plans that can adapt to changing circumstances, while maintaining the overarching goals of strengthening food security and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, particularly water.
Under the new Vision, the Ministry of Agriculture should transition from a direct producer into a modern strategic institution focused on policymaking, regulation, coordination, and sectoral development. Its primary role should be to formulate agricultural policies that promote food security, environmental sustainability, and resilient agricultural growth, while establishing the legislative and regulatory frameworks needed to govern the sector effectively. The Ministry should coordinate with other government agencies, local authorities, research institutions, and the private sector to improve agricultural performance and strengthen value chains. It should provide research, extension, and technical support services to farmers, oversee compliance with national and international environmental, sanitary, phytosanitary (SPS), and technical (TBT) standards, and supervise key service facilities such as slaughterhouses, quarantine centers, and fertilizer and pesticide plants. In addition, the Ministry should promote the sustainable management of water, soil, and other natural resources while enhancing the sector's resilience to climate change. Institutionally, the Ministry should clearly separate strategic functions—such as planning, policymaking, regulation, and oversight—from operational service delivery, which should be carried out through specialized agencies and service units. Governance should be strengthened through transparent decision-making, accountability mechanisms, and performance-based management using measurable indicators. Within this framework, state-owned agricultural enterprises should also be restructured. Rather than being privatized, they should remain publicly owned while operating under strategic partnerships with the private sector. Private partners would assume responsibility for operations, investment, and production, supported by independent operational management, while the government retains ownership, regulatory oversight, and performance monitoring. Partnership models should be selected based on economic feasibility to maximize efficiency, investment, and the long-term competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture's Strategy is organized around some strategic pillars: (1) rural development, crucial due to the vital role rural areas play in food security and livelihoods. It promotes income diversification, environmental protection, and reduced socio-economic disparities between rural and urban areas, while supporting long-term agricultural productivity through sustainable practices. Ultimately, rural development aims not only to increase production but to build resilient, efficient, and equitable rural communities supported by broader infrastructure and economic development; (2) crop production and seed improvement, aiming to meet rising future demand driven by population growth, higher incomes, and increased consumption of food and animal products, while adapting to climate change and water scarcity. Given limited resources—especially water—and urban expansion, it prioritizes food security crops such as wheat, legumes, and barley for feed, alongside promoting crops with comparative and competitive advantages for export markets; (3) livestock development and animal health, characterized by important livestock breeds with competitive advantages, such as Awassi sheep and Shami goats. However, the livestock sector has suffered significant damage, including a 40% decline in herd size, weakened veterinary services due to infrastructure damage, and reduced feed production due to climate change. The implementation plan focuses on rebuilding herds, improving animal health, securing feed supplies, and strengthening technical capacities to restore and develop the livestock sector; (4) sustainable natural resource management on which the agricultural development depends. Natural resources, such as water, land, forests, and rangelands, have historically supported food security, exports, and rural livelihoods in Syria. However, these resources are increasingly under threat from overuse, degradation, urban expansion, and climate change. The Strategy therefore prioritizes sustainable management of natural resources to balance production needs with environmental protection and ensure long-term food security and rural development. The framework takes also in consideration important factors such as agricultural support services and climate change adaptation. Each pillar includes clear objectives, implementation plans with measurable performance indicators, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and a risk management framework to address challenges such as climate change, funding shortages, policy shifts, market fluctuations, and coordination gaps.