Following farmer protests, Syrian authorities introduce additional bonus for wheat deliveries to the state

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed Legislative Decree No. 120, introducing an additional incentive payment of 9,000 new Syrian pounds (around $80–82) per ton of wheat delivered to the state grain agency. The bonus will be paid on top of the official procurement price set by the Ministry of Economy and Industry.

The decision came in response to farmer protests after authorities announced the procurement price for 2026 hard wheat at around 46,000 new Syrian pounds per ton, or approximately $330–340. Farmers said this level does not cover rising costs of fuel, fertilizers, seeds, transport, and irrigation, which have surged due to inflation and the depreciation of the Syrian pound.

The strongest dissatisfaction was reported in the provinces of Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor, where protests took place in recent days. Farmers warned that low profitability could force them to reduce wheat cultivation or abandon it in future seasons, raising concerns over the country’s food security.

The Syrian government expects the new bonus to help stabilize the situation and encourage farmers to deliver more grain to the state. However, analysts note that the effectiveness of the measure will depend on future inflation trends and actual production costs.