Sweida, SANA- The Grape harvesting operations for the current season have begun in Sweida, as initial estimates indicate that the governorate’s grape production for this season will reach more than 54 thousand tons, according to the Director of Agriculture, Eng. Ayham Hamed.

Director of Sweida Agriculture Department Ayham Hamed told SANA that harvesting is currently taking place within vineyards in which the crop ripens early.

He added that the cultivation of grapevines is concentered in areas of Daher al-Jabel, al-Kafr, Mayamas ,al-Sahwa ,Arman , Qanawat and Shahba.

Hamed pointed out that the crop is currently being marketed by farmers in local markets , and it will begin to be manufactured for molasses and raisins and marketed to the Syrian Company for Manufacturing Grapes in the coming days.

The total cultivated area is 10,039 hectares, and the total number of vines exceeds 4 million and 700 thousand, of which the fruitful ones constitute more than 4 million and 270 thousand vines.

Manar Salameh