Damascus, June 4 (SANA) Syria has launched its 2026 wheat procurement season, with receiving centers beginning deliveries in several governorates while preparations continue in key producing areas ahead of the peak harvest period.
The Syrian Grain Establishment (SGE) said wheat production is expected to reach about 2.5 million tons this season, according to Director General Hassan al-Othman, a level that would cover estimated domestic needs and support food security and self-sufficiency.
President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 120 of 2026 granting farmers an incentive bonus of 9,000 new Syrian pounds (about $70) per ton of wheat delivered to the SGE, in addition to the official procurement price set by the Ministry of Economy and Industry at 46,000 new Syrian pounds (about $380) per ton.
Procurement operations have begun in Hama, Daraa, Tartous and Latakia, where receiving centers are operating under a new electronic booking system designed to organize deliveries, reduce congestion and accelerate procedures for farmers.
In Hama, deliveries started at the Salhab center in the al-Ghab region, with officials expecting higher volumes than last year’s 18,000 tons due to improved rainfall and weather conditions.
In Daraa, wheat intake has begun at the Izraa silos, while the Bosra al-Sham grain center is being prepared following rehabilitation works. Production in the governorate is estimated at around 106,000 tons this season.
Meanwhile, procurement has not yet begun in several eastern and northern governorates, including Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo, where harvesting is scheduled later, despite their status as major wheat-producing regions.
Authorities said extensive preparatory measures have been completed in these areas. In Hasakah, solar power systems and surveillance cameras have been installed at grain centers to ensure uninterrupted operations, while an electronic registration platform has been introduced in Raqqa to streamline crop marketing and procurement procedures.
In Hasakah, agricultural authorities said wheat and barley crops are developing under generally good conditions supported by above-average rainfall. The governorate expects wheat output of about 1.025 million tons from approximately 750,000 hectares under cultivation.
Officials also said silo infrastructure in the province is being restored, including the Sabah al-Khair facility, where rehabilitation includes electrical system replacement, installation of lifting and dust removal motors, and completion of control systems.
In Deir Ezzor, the Ministry of Agriculture said emergency agricultural monitoring has been intensified following rising Euphrates River water levels earlier last week, which caused flooding in parts of wheat and vegetable farmland in the western countryside.
Field teams have been deployed to assess damage and document losses for compensation procedures, with preliminary assessments indicating limited losses in wheat fields.
Authorities in Deir Ezzor also said grain storage facilities are being rehabilitated ahead of the harvest, including silos in al-Bukamal, Al-Mayadin, the Euphrates Centre and the 10-kilometre grain center north of Deir Ezzor city, with concrete silo capacity estimated at about 100,000 tons.
The SGE said it has expanded national storage capacity to nearly one million tons through a rehabilitation program covering silos, grain centers and storage facilities. The institution operates 37 silos and 98 smaller storage facilities, though a number remain out of service.
Rehabilitation and modernization work has restored multiple facilities in Hasakah, Raqqa and Daraa, while work continues at the Adra silos in Damascus Countryside, where completion has reached 80%. The facility, with a storage capacity of about 200,000 tons, is expected to return to service after being inactive since 2012.
Officials said the current season is strategically important for strengthening domestic wheat supplies, boosting strategic reserves, supporting farmers and reducing reliance on imports as Syria seeks to enhance long-term food security.
M.F / ABD
