Syria’s 218 million fruit trees face challenges from drought and climate change

DAMASCUS: Syria has about 218 million fruit trees across one million hectares of agricultural land, including 190 million productive trees, with annual output estimated at 2.5 million tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Olives, apples, citrus fruits and pistachios are among the country’s major agricultural crops, supporting thousands of farming families and contributing to food production, rural employment and…