Syria Relies on Increasing Wheat Production to Cut Import Costs
(AWP) - The Syrian Ministry of Agriculture is poised to increase wheat production this season to cut its import bill for the crop by nearly half, affirming that the increase in rainfall throughout the seasons bodes well for higher productivity.
The government states that it has supported wheat cultivation through large-scale irrigation projects in addition to supporting farmers through soft loans, fertilizers and fuel to expand the cultivated areas in light of the high demand for the crop.
Wheat cultivation in Deir al-Zor and its vast countryside in northern Syria is given great attention by farmers and the government alike, given what this strategic crop represents in terms of food and economic stability, being a fundamental resource.
Farhan al-Qadi, Chairman of the Wheat Department at the Deir al-Zor Agricultural Directorate, said the plan implemented for this year is estimated at around 32,000 hectares.
He explained, “The Syrian state is supporting farmers with fertilizers and pesticides as well as fuel. Wheat is an essential resource for the farmers as a food source and the remaining yield is being supplied to the state.”
Farmers in Deir al-Zor rely on the revenue from the wheat crop to finance summer crops, in addition to meeting their needs for bread and flour.
Jassem, a farmer, said, “We keep part of the agricultural output of the wheat season as seeds for the next one. We eat from it while part of it is kept for the next season to support other crops like cotton and summer crops.”