DAMASCUS, (SANA )_ The search operation in the field of agricultural diversification and inserting alternative crops has become an urgent need in the light of the weather conditions and the current and future climate changes .

The possibility of introducing a new crop to the local environment depends on its suitability for the local farming conditions, characteristics of the soil, the climatic conditions, and combating plant disease epidemics and capabilities of farmers and their understanding of the reasons for the introduction of these kinds of crops and their readiness to replace traditional crops by others which are more appropriate to the circumstances of the climatic changing.

It is not necessary that all alternative crops are of more economic value than the traditional, but they contribute in enriching the agricultural cycle and improving the soil fertility and contribute to regulate the distribution of workers throughout the year instead of focusing on specific period of time to make the Agricultural system
more flexible, especially the multi-use food crops.

Head of Grain Program in the Arab Centre Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Areas ( ACSAD) Ayman al-O'da considered the process of finding convenient new ways to the work as one of the most challenges facing the farmers now.

He said that diversification of the agricultural crops must not be limited in the fields agricultural products but must include fruit trees, vegetables, medical herbs, spices, flowers and products of forest trees.

The diversification of agricultural production, through the introduction of new crops target is a strategic and political target for today world with the aim of reducing dependence on traditional agricultural products that have become unsuitable for the current climatic changes, maintenance of the current biodiversity and reducing the degradation of the natural plant in addition to contribution in strengthening the national economy, improving the environmental habitat and operating more
workers.

The reasons of inserting the alternative crops to Syria lie in the prevailing climatic conditions, decline in the rainfall, higher temperatures and widening the drought areas.

Ghossoun /