The State of Food and Agriculture In Syria (SOFAS) 2005 By Samir Jrad Agro-Food Division

September 7, 2005 Introduction Periodical biennial report Periodical biennial report Second edition of SOFAS Second edition of SOFAS First edition in 2003 First edition in 2003 Covers three years Covers three years

September 7, 2005 Objectives Providing comprehensive information Providing comprehensive information Relevant to agricultural development Relevant to agricultural development Useful for debating and enhancing agricultural plans and policies Useful for debating and enhancing agricultural plans and policies Useful for offering an updated review of agricultural issues Useful for offering an updated review of agricultural issues Beneficiaries Beneficiaries Researchers, policy makers and stakeholders Researchers, policy makers and stakeholders Presenting selected policy issues Presenting selected policy issues

September 7, 2005 Parts of the Report Part I Part I Reviews the performance and presents the state of the agricultural sector Reviews the performance and presents the state of the agricultural sector Six chapters Six chapters Part II Part II Presents selected comparative advantages studies Presents selected comparative advantages studies Cotton, wheat, olive oil, tomato, orange, and livestock selected commodity chains Cotton, wheat, olive oil, tomato, orange, and livestock selected commodity chains

September 7, 2005 Part I- Chapter 1 Climatic conditions and natural resources Climatic conditions and natural resources Natural resources Natural resources Land resources Land resources Water resources Water resources Forestry Forestry

September 7, 2005 Part I- Chapter 2 Agriculture in the national economy Agriculture in the national economy Contribution to GDP, employment and trade Contribution to GDP, employment and trade Agricultural investments Agricultural investments Labor productivity and income Labor productivity and income

September 7, 2005 Part I- Chapter 3 Policies Affecting Agriculture General policies General policies Exchange rate, Monetary and credit, Fiscal, Marketing and trade, Trade agreements Exchange rate, Monetary and credit, Fiscal, Marketing and trade, Trade agreements Policies specific to agriculture Policies specific to agriculture Imports and credit, Price and marketing, Agricultural trade Imports and credit, Price and marketing, Agricultural trade Agricultural support services Agricultural support services Research, Extension Research, Extension

September 7, 2005 Part I- Chapter 4 Agricultural Production Evolution of agricultural production Evolution of agricultural production Crop production, Animal production Crop production, Animal production Analysis of agricultural production Analysis of agricultural production Index analysis (Area, yield, price) Index analysis (Area, yield, price) Comparison of the averages of two periods Comparison of the averages of two periods Comparison between two years (Base, Current) Comparison between two years (Base, Current) Analysis of the evolution of selected major commodities Analysis of the evolution of selected major commodities Plant and animal products (Wheat, Cotton, Red meat, Poultry) Plant and animal products (Wheat, Cotton, Red meat, Poultry)

September 7, 2005 Part I- Chapter 5 Agro-Food Industry Public Public Private Private Joint-Ventures Joint-Ventures Export Export

September 7, 2005 Part I- Chapter 6 Food Availability and Food Consumption Total availabilities and availability per capita Total availabilities and availability per capita Contribution of food trade to food supply Contribution of food trade to food supply Food consumption Food consumption International benchmarks International benchmarks Acquisition of food Acquisition of food Effects of prices, income and farm size Effects of prices, income and farm size

September 7, 2005 Problems encountered Lack of data: Only for output Lack of data: Only for output Initial underestimation of time, quality and coordination constraints Initial underestimation of time, quality and coordination constraints English ability English ability

September 7, 2005 Expected Improvements Using more international benchmarks Using more international benchmarks Improving chapter 1 on natural resources (Land, Water and Forestry) Improving chapter 1 on natural resources (Land, Water and Forestry) Improving chapter 2 on agricultural investments Improving chapter 2 on agricultural investments Improving chapter 3 Improving chapter 3 Concentrating more on policy changes and impacts Concentrating more on policy changes and impacts Measuring the impact of some policies by using models and index analysis Measuring the impact of some policies by using models and index analysis

September 7, 2005 Expected Improvements Improving chapter 4 Improving chapter 4 Considering the entire commodity system Considering the entire commodity system Measuring the impact of changes and policies Measuring the impact of changes and policies Models, Index analysis, Commodity chains Models, Index analysis, Commodity chains Conducting analysis concerning the input and output side of the market and their interaction Conducting analysis concerning the input and output side of the market and their interaction Improving chapter 6 Improving chapter 6 Nutritional and calories intake analysis Nutritional and calories intake analysis Supply and demand analysis Supply and demand analysis

September 7, 2005 Tools and Needs Tools to be used Tools to be used Commodity chains (Commodity outlook) Commodity chains (Commodity outlook) Supply and demand analysis Supply and demand analysis Index analysis Index analysis Needs Needs More advanced training especially concerning supply and demand analysis More advanced training especially concerning supply and demand analysis