Damascus, Feb. 23 (SANA) — Syria has launched a comprehensive Livestock Sector Strategy 2030 aimed at restoring production capacity, improving sustainability, and strengthening food security after years of severe losses to the agricultural economy.
The strategy, announced by the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, targets recovery in livestock, poultry, and fisheries, sectors that collectively support large segments of rural livelihoods and agri-food supply chains.
According to official data, livestock numbers have declined by around 40 percent in recent years due to infrastructure damage, weakened veterinary services, climate pressures, and feed shortages. The new plan seeks to reverse that decline through targeted investment, institutional reform, and productivity gains.
Herd recovery and productivity
Central to the strategy is rebuilding cattle and sheep herds, including the introduction of high-yield breeds through structured import programs for small and medium breeders. Authorities plan to rehabilitate artificial insemination centers, improve genetic stock, and expand poultry production to raise output efficiency.
Feed security is another priority. Measures include modernizing feed mills, developing alternative locally sourced feed materials, expanding climate-resilient fodder crops, and improving laboratory testing and quality certification to international standards.
Expanding aquaculture
The plan also places new emphasis on freshwater aquaculture, with expanded production of fish fingerlings, rehabilitation of hatcheries, and promotion of cage farming in suitable reservoirs. Private-sector participation will be encouraged through regulatory facilitation and financial incentives, while household-scale fish farming projects will be expanded to support rural incomes.
Veterinary services and disease control
Improving veterinary readiness forms a key pillar of the strategy. Planned measures include upgrading diagnostic laboratories, strengthening quarantine systems, expanding vaccine production capacity, and aligning disease surveillance with international health standards.
Authorities also aim to establish a national early-warning system for zoonotic diseases under a “One Health” framework, integrating animal, human, and environmental health data to reduce epidemic risks.
Data, training, and quality standards
The strategy introduces a nationwide livestock identification and data-registration system to support planning, traceability, and disease control. Parallel efforts will focus on training veterinary and technical staff, upgrading production facilities, and aligning Syrian animal products with regional and international quality benchmarks.
Officials say the 2030 strategy provides a roadmap for restoring the livestock sector’s role in economic recovery, improving rural livelihoods, and reinforcing Syria’s long-term food security.
