Cotton and sugar beet would not be planted, this year, in Homs city due to water shortage.
The decision was made by agriculture sub-committee under a letter from water resources directorate about shortage of surface and ground water to plant such corps as they need a quantity of water.
Speaking to Tishreen newspaper, Homs Agriculture Director, Eng. Zafer al-Sabbagh said: "the current season is interested in volatile and medical plants including cumin, coriander and fennel ".
During the season 2008-2009, the planting of sugar beet and cotton was cancelled in the fields watered by Homs-Hama irrigation network , while it was kept in the field irrigated by licensed wells.