Syria achieves wheat self-sufficiency for the first time since 2010

Syria has achieved wheat self-sufficiency for the first time since 2010 and will not need to import wheat during the current marketing season. The announcement was made by Ahmed Qadoun, Deputy Director General of the Syrian Grain Establishment.

According to Qadoun, government purchases of the new wheat harvest reached 2.7 mln tons, exceeding the country’s estimated annual demand of 2.55 mln tons. As a result, Syria will be able to forgo wheat imports for the first time since the outbreak of the civil war.

Before the conflict began in 2011, Syria produced an average of 4.1 mln tons of wheat annually, fully covering domestic demand. However, years of war, recurring droughts, and damage to agricultural infrastructure forced the country to rely on wheat imports, mainly from Russia, as well as grain donations from other countries.

The recovery in wheat production was supported by improved coordination with the northeastern regions, where much of Syria’s wheat is grown. Agreements reached between Damascus and the Kurdish administration have helped improve grain procurement from local farmers.

Despite regaining wheat self-sufficiency, food security remains a major challenge. According to the United Nations, more than 13 mln Syrians continue to face acute food insecurity due to the combined effects of prolonged conflict, economic hardship, and climate-related shocks.

Tags: wheat, Syria, imports, crop forecast