ACSAD and AAH-Spain organization (Action Against Hunger) // ongoing cooperation
The Director-General of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Drylands (ACSAD) Dr. Nasr Edin Obaid discussed with the Director of the Office of the Spanish Organization Against Hunger (AAH-Spain) in Syria, Mr. Nasr Meflahi, and the accompanying delegation, the cooperation relations and the prospects for enhancing them, in the presence of ACSAD’s departments` managers and relevant experts.
During the meeting held at ACSAD headquarters in Damascus on 22/11/2020, the Director-General of ACSAD gave a comprehensive presentation on the process of cooperation between the two sides, noting the achievements made through training and guidance production inputs to livestock breeders and farmers.
He clarified that cooperation between the two sides resulted in implementing 16 developmental and relief projects in Syria and one project in the Arab Republic of Egypt with a total value exceeding 10.5 million US dollars during the last years.
Dr. Obaid added that these projects included 37 thousand poor rural families affected by the crisis in Syria in the different governorates of the Syrian countryside. They were given a complete package of necessary agricultural aids that guarantee the restoration of the agricultural production cycle, stabilizing them in their villages, cultivating their lands, feeding their animals, and preventing them from getting out of the production process.
He pointed out that these aids included distributing about 2,800 tons of wheat seed, about 6,000 tons of fodder, 600 thousand seedlings of summer vegetables, 12,345 baskets of summer and winter vegetable seeds and equipment, furthermore, 4,500 baskets of veterinary tools and veterinary medicines.
The Director-General of ACSAD explained that 144 rain-water harvesting units were implemented at the household and community level, in addition to the implementation of about 1,400 Extension Units for beneficiaries from these projects, and the training of more than 2,000 young men and women in income-generating skills in the field of manufacture of agricultural and animal products at home. And to provide the necessary tools and equipment for such projects free of charge.
He pointed that this has improved the income of targeted rural families, improved their food and water security, increased sheep heads by 20-30% as a result of these projects, improved the income for livestock breeder families by 30%, ensuring water-support sources for targeted families, and established about 1,000 micro-enterprises that are revenue-generated.
Dr. Obaid expressed his happiness for continuing this cooperation that serves the Syrian and Arab rural population to achieve this high-end humanitarian organization’s programs, aspirations, and goals. He noted that work is underway on the two projects, “Meeting the Basic Needs of the People affected by the crisis in Syria/the second year.” and “The reduction of the severity of the crisis on the populations affected by the crisis in Syria/the second year,” worth 1.5 million dollars, from which about 2900 poor rural families benefit in six Syrian governorates.
For his part, Mr. Muflihi explained the progress of the development and relief projects implemented in cooperation between the two sides during the past ten years in Syria and the Arab countries. He commended the considerable efforts made by ACSAD to implement the joint projects between the two sides, noting the positive results achieved through them, promising continued cooperation between the two sides in the next phase.
The two sides thanked and appreciated the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in the Syrian Arab Republic for its great logistical support for these development projects’ success and all donors contributing to financing these projects.
