Farmers in Syria are outraged by wheat purchase prices

The Syrian government’s decision to set a purchase price for wheat for the current season has sparked outrage among farmers, who say the price is below the actual cost of production, while Damascus is counting on a bumper harvest this year to reduce imports and bolster food security, The New Arab reported.

The decision comes amid expectations of a record harvest thanks to heavy rainfall in key agricultural regions in the north and east of the country. Farmers fear the low purchase price could lead to a decision not to grow wheat in future seasons.

“This price doesn’t even cover costs,” says farmer Abdelrahman al-Ali.

The decision, he said, came as a shock to farmers in a country that relies on wheat imports to meet its domestic needs.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry has set the purchase price for durum wheat (in bags) at 46,000 new Syrian pounds (about $330/t), compared to $320/t for durum wheat and $300/t for soft wheat last year.

Farmers say the current price is unfair. Al-Ali said the government is not taking into account high production costs, including fuel and fertilizer. He also said he will not be able to repay debts accumulated during this season.

This year’s harvest is expected to be high thanks to heavy rainfall in the provinces of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Hasaka and eastern Aleppo, the main regions for growing wheat, which is traditionally considered a strategic crop in Syria.

According to Syrian authorities, the harvest could exceed 2 million tons and cover domestic needs. By 2011, the country was producing over 4 million tons of wheat, enough to meet domestic demand and export surpluses. During the war, production fell to less than 1 million tons.

Syria still imports wheat, mostly from Russia and Ukraine. This is the first time since 2013 that the government has controlled almost all of its production, as much of the grain was previously controlled by the Kurdish autonomous administration.

Farmers and experts warn that low purchase prices could force farmers to abandon wheat in favor of more profitable crops, threatening the country’s food security.

Tags: prices, wheat, Syria, imports, crop forecast