As Syria’s agricultural sector faces growing challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and rising production costs, regenerative agriculture is emerging as a sustainable strategic option to maintain productivity and strengthen farmland resilience to climate change, experts in the field told SANA.  Environmental expert Mouaffaq Al-Sheikh Ali said regenerative agriculture aims to reduce tillage, improve soil quality and preserve biodiversity through the rational use of water resources. He added that the approach contributes to carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while crop rotation helps improve soil properties and sustain agricultural production.  Regenerative agriculture expert Hanan Sharabi said the approach relies on studying the physiological characteristics of individual plants and selecting species that can benefit from one another.  She noted that growing vegetables alongside medicinal and aromatic plants, such as basil and lavender, can help repel certain harmful insects through the scents released by these plants.  Agricultural engineer Christine al-Sabaa of Caritas Syria said the organization had launched the GHOUTA project in Rural Damascus in cooperation with the Damascus and Rural Damascus Directorate of Agriculture. The project promotes regenerative farming practices for summer and winter crops, including tomatoes, legumes, onions, garlic and Swiss chard.  Al-Sabaa said the project introduces farmers to practical techniques suited to their environmental and economic circumstances. These include compost and vermicompost, which is produced by decomposing organic waste with the help of earthworms.  The project promotes the use of plant extracts, integrated pest management, improved irrigation practices and better management of water resources.  Al-Sabaa said the project had encountered challenges because some practices were new to farmers and because climatic and water conditions vary between areas. She said practical training and continuous follow-up were being used to address these difficulties.  Regarding the potential to expand regenerative agriculture, Al-Sabaa said significant opportunities existed, provided that the specific characteristics of each area, including its climate, soil and available resources, were taken into account.  She emphasized the need to promote the approach’s core principles: improving soil health, rationalizing water consumption, making use of local resources and applying integrated pest management.  Agriculture in Syria faces mounting challenges, underscoring the need to develop farming methods that use resources more efficiently, maintain productivity and reduce the depletion of agricultural land. Such practices could support the long-term sustainability of the sector and strengthen its capacity to adapt to climate change. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Syrian Arab News Agency