Syria's wheat output tops 3.5 million tons, Hasakah leads production

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's wheat production for the current season is forecast to exceed 3.5 million tons, said Saed Ibrahim, head of the Agricultural Economy and Planning Department at the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture. The state-run Syrian Grain Foundation has so far received about 2.7 million tons of wheat from farmers, according to the official. Ibrahim said the gap between deliveries and total output reflects ongoing marketing and procurement processes, and that final figures will be released later by the Planning and Statistics Department. He added that April rainfall improved yields during the crop's final growth stages and that higher dam water levels supported irrigated farming. Syria's annual wheat demand stands at roughly 4 million tons, and the current harvest is expected to narrow the shortfall. Ibrahim stressed that continued support for farmers, including favorable prices, is essential to achieving full self-sufficiency. The country's Seed Production Foundation has run contract-farming arrangements with growers, with contracted fields averaging more than 5 tons per hectare. Hasakah province accounted for 37.3% of planted land nationwide and contributed about 38% of production, making it the country's leading wheat-growing region this season.