Syria and Türkiye launch joint plan to rebuild war-damaged agriculture
Damascus seeks to restore farmland and food security with Turkish support after years of conflict
DAMASCUS, Syria (MNTV) — Syria has signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Türkiye to rehabilitate its war-ravaged agricultural sector, marking a major step in efforts to revive food production and restore farmland after more than a decade of civil conflict.
Syrian Agriculture Minister Amjad Badr and Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı met in Damascus, where they finalized an agreement that sets out a detailed roadmap for rebuilding agricultural infrastructure.
The deal follows months of talks between the two governments and builds on a joint committee formed earlier this year to coordinate agricultural recovery projects, according to local news.
Minister Badr highlighted the severe destruction Syria’s agriculture has suffered, noting that bombardments, irrigation damage, and military activity such as trenching, road building, and mine-laying have left vast areas of farmland unusable.
“We are working to reclaim these lands gradually and bring them back into productive use,” he said, stressing the importance of both public and private sector cooperation.
Badr outlined a broad agenda for revitalization, including investments in crop and livestock production, agro-industrial development, forestry, ecotourism, and the manufacturing of agricultural inputs and equipment.
He added that his ministry is restructuring its institutions, strengthening human resource capacity, and implementing a long-term strategic plan with short-term measures to address urgent challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.
For its part, Türkiye pledged technical and logistical support to accelerate Syria’s recovery. Minister Yumaklı confirmed that Ankara would provide vaccines against livestock diseases, assist with the establishment of farmer registration and agricultural inventory systems, and construct a 50,000-square-meter greenhouse complex.
He emphasized that Türkiye’s backing was aimed at ensuring food security and strengthening bilateral trade opportunities.
“After 13 years of devastation, we must now focus on forward-looking efforts to restore Syria’s agricultural production. Türkiye will continue to support this revival,” Yumaklı told Anadolu Agency.
The agreement signals a deepening of bilateral cooperation between Damascus and Ankara, which have already held discussions on reconstruction priorities in energy, infrastructure, and finance.
With agriculture now at the forefront, Syrian officials hope the partnership will help accelerate recovery while positioning the country’s farmland and agribusiness as central pillars of its economic reconstruction.
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