Syria opens wheat procurement season as harvest outlook improves

Syria has officially launched its 2026 wheat procurement season, with grain collection centers beginning operations across several governorates. Authorities forecast a wheat harvest of about 2.5 million tonnes this year and expect the crop to strengthen domestic food security, support local farmers, and reduce reliance on imports.

According to Hassan al-Othman, Director General of the Syrian Grain Establishment, the expected harvest should help meet much of the country’s domestic demand. To encourage deliveries, President Ahmad al-Sharaa approved a bonus of 9,000 Syrian pounds per tonne for wheat supplied to the state, in addition to the official procurement price.

Grain procurement has already started in Hama, Daraa, Tartous, and Latakia, where authorities have introduced an electronic booking system to streamline deliveries and reduce waiting times. Officials expect higher collection volumes this year thanks to favorable rainfall and improved crop conditions.

Harvesting in the major wheat-producing regions of Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Aleppo will begin later in the season. Hasakah alone is expected to produce around 1.025 million tonnes of wheat from nearly 750,000 hectares, supported by strong rainfall during the growing season.

Syria is also expanding its grain storage infrastructure, with total storage capacity approaching 1 million tonnes following rehabilitation projects at silos and grain centers. At the same time, the country continues to import wheat to maintain strategic reserves, including a recent shipment of 70,000 tonnes through the Port of Tartous.

Tags: Syria, wheat, harvesting