Syria faces ongoing dispute over wheat procurement prices

A debate has emerged in Syria over the government’s wheat procurement policy after the official purchase price announced by authorities triggered dissatisfaction among farmers in several regions. In mid-May, the Ministry of Economy set the procurement price at around $332 per ton, a level many producers argued did not reflect rising production costs or provide an adequate profit margin.

Farmers reported significant increases in the cost of seeds, fertilizers, fuel, transportation, labor, and harvesting services over the past year. The situation has been further complicated by the depreciation of the Syrian pound, while many agricultural inputs continue to be priced in U.S. dollars.

Amid growing protests, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa approved an additional bonus of about $65 per ton for wheat delivered to state grain institutions. The measure raised the effective procurement price to nearly $400 per ton, helping to ease tensions and stabilize the situation in key agricultural areas.

However, analysts note that a similar intervention was required last year, when the president also stepped in to revise the initial wheat price. According to observers, this highlights deeper structural issues in the country’s agricultural pricing system and insufficient coordination between government agencies and the farming sector.

Experts argue that Syria needs a more transparent mechanism for setting wheat procurement prices, with greater involvement of farmers’ organizations and a stronger focus on actual production costs. Such reforms could help improve confidence in public institutions and reduce the risk of future disputes during upcoming marketing seasons.

Tags: prices, wheat, Syria