Rural areas have traditionally suffered neglect. Governments have for too long been urban-focused while ignoring the concerns of rural areas. The tragic results are all too apparent: large-scale rural-urban migration, rural poverty, decline of agriculture, an ageing rural population.
We advocate a balanced approach to economic development. Rural areas must receive their fair share of investment, particularly in electricity, sanitation and communications. Education has an important role to play: Every village should have a high school, and every governorate should have a university.
Farmers have for far too long been held back by an outdated state-run agricultural sector. Rather than all produce prepared for export being forcibly sold to the state at minimal prices, farmers should have the opportunity to sell their goods to overseas retailers directly. Farmers should also enjoy the right to agricultural loans, and to have import duties reduced on agricultural machinery. Syria has not yet fully utilized its agricultural potential, and for that to happen the free market must extend to agriculture. |
