US agencies distribute thousands of tons of wheat seeds to Syria. Syrian Ministry of Agriculture: it

Original title: US agencies distribute thousands of tons of wheat seeds to Syria. Syrian Ministry of Agriculture: it is not suitable for planting at all

Syrian media reports. Screenshot of Syrian state news agency report
Damascus, November 24 (reporter Xue Dan) according to the Syrian national news agency, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that it would distribute about 3000 tons of wheat seeds to farmers in some areas of kamishli, hassek Province, northeast Syria, to ensure that there is an adequate local food source. However, the Syrian agricultural department found through sampling inspection that 40% of wheat seeds contain grain nematode disease, which is not only not suitable for planting, but also brings great harm to local agricultural production.
On November 10, USAID decided to deliver wheat seeds to northeast Syria. He said on his social account: "wheat is the pillar of Syria's agricultural industry. After the 'high-quality' seeds distributed this time are planted, there will be a harvest of about 32000 tons of wheat next year, so as to ensure that everyone has flour, bread and other wheat products."
On November 14, Ahmed, chairman of the farmers' Union of Hasek Province, warned that these seeds had not been analyzed and tested in the laboratories of relevant official institutions, and local farmers should raise their awareness of prevention. At the same time, agricultural experts pointed out that any plant or animal entering Syria must accept the inspection and Quarantine of the agricultural quarantine center, because it may carry pests, viruses, etc., which pose a threat to all crops. Hassek farmers' Union also warned against planting wheat seeds of unknown origin.
Subsequently, the Syrian Agricultural Department released the relevant sampling inspection results, which showed that 40% of the wheat seeds produced in Turkey contained mitochondrial disease, which was not only unsuitable for planting, but also brought agricultural pests and long-term impact on local agricultural production. The Syrian news agency specifically pointed out in its report that the USAID is so "generous" and the purpose behind the "charity" is to undermine Syria's food security.
Wheat is an important food source in Syria. According to the statistics of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the official data of the Syrian government, the agricultural production in Syria increased compared with previous years in 2020, and the wheat output reached 3085000 tons, an increase of 67% over the average level of the previous five years, but the gap still reached 1.62 million tons. Under the condition that the hungry population still exists, the Wheat Resources in Syria are still wildly plundered and destroyed. Syrian media recently reported that the US military in Syria sent 40 trucks to hassek province to smuggle wheat and oil. Since the beginning of this year, the Syrian government has repeatedly condemned the US action in Syria as a "bandit act of a national nature" aimed at unimpeded plundering of Syria's natural resources.

Issued by USAID. Screenshot of USAID social account