September 18, 2001

Syria's 2001/02 Wheat and Barley Production Reaches Record Levels 

Summary

Syria’s 2001/02 wheat and barley production reached record levels due to excellent rainfall and suitable temperatures and humidity throughout the growing season.  Wheat production for the 2001/02 marketing year is estimated at 4.5 million tons, up 0.7 million from last month and up 1.8 million from last year.  Barley production for 2001/02 is estimated at 1.7 million tons, up 0.4 million from last month and up 1.6 million from last year.  The barley crop is 99 percent rainfed; about 40 percent the wheat crop is irrigated. 

Full Drought Recovery

Syria is recovering from two consecutive drought years during the 1999/2000 and 2000/01 crops.  Syria also experienced a drought during the 1997/98 crop year, but wheat production recovered slightly in 1998/99.  During the drought years, wheat was less affected than barley due to more wheat area being irrigated.  Last year’s barley crop was a complete failure due to drought, resulting in record barley imports. 

For more information, contact Curt Reynolds with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division at (202) 690-0134 or e-mail  ReynoldsC@fas.usda.gov.

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