Politique cotonnière en Syrie : adaptation partielle et progressive à la mondialisation

Syria is a rather important cotton producing country but its cotton policy is seldom appraised and remains little known outside. This policy is quite particular in terms of strong and stable commitment from the State and of powerful administrative control of cotton production, even after some shift to economy liberalization. The pricing system has remained unchanged for more than forty years to guaranty attractive income to producers. Syria provides a rare example of cotton policy based on offer control, integrating more recently the concern of sustainable water use. With regard to the policy objectives, the Syrian cotton policy comes out to be effective to increase cotton production and to develop textile industry whose raw material requirements are fully covered. The investment in research and technical assistance to producers has enabled Syria to be a rare cotton country achieving substantial reduction of insecticide use. It is not possible to assess the extent of policy effectiveness and efficiency because of difficult access to the needed data. The concern for a sustainable use of water comes out to be quite insufficient. The Syria's desire to join in WTO implies the challenge of drastic change of its cotton policy while maintaining an effective role of the State.