Published on 6/19/2026
An official in the Ministry of Agriculture in Syria said that wheat production may more than double this year, driven by improved rains and the return to inclusion of major governorates in the north and northeast in production accounts, in a shift that comes after a harsh drought season that pressured last year’s crop and raised the need for imports.
Reuters quoted the Director of Agricultural Affairs and Prevention at the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, Ahmed Jalal Al-Ahmad, as saying that the ministry expects to harvest between 2.3 and 2.5 million tons of wheat this year, compared to about 900,000 tons last year, adding that the country witnessed a “bumpy harvest season” after the rains improved.
These estimates are consistent with what the Syrian Grains Corporation announced earlier this June, when it said that wheat production in the 2026 season may reach about 2.5 million tons, with the start of the purchasing season and the start of receiving centers in a number of governorates.
The expected jump comes after a year in which crops declined strongly due to drought, as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated grain production in Syria in 2025 at about 1.2 million tons, that is, more than 60% below average, due to severe drought and rainfall that was below the long-term average by more than 50% between November 2024 and May 2025.
Wheat governorates
Al-Ahmad said that the expected increase is also linked to calculating the contributions of northern and northeastern governorates that have been outside the government’s control for years, noting that Al-Hasakah may contribute about 800,000 tons, Raqqa with about 300,000 tons, and Deir ez-Zor with about 250,000 tons, meaning approximately 1.35 million tons of expected production.
SANA had reported from the Syrian Grains Corporation that purchasing operations had begun in Hama, Daraa, Tartous, and Latakia, while they had not yet begun in Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Aleppo, which are among the main wheat-producing governorates, due to the later harvest date there than the other governorates.
According to SANA, the Syrian Grain Corporation is working to improve its storage capabilities before the harvest season, as it talked about rehabilitating a number of silos and granaries with local expertise, while dozens of sites remain in need of rehabilitation in preparation for the coming seasons.
Last February, the Ministry of Economy and Industry also formed a higher committee to receive grains with the aim of developing a plan for marketing the 2026 wheat crop, forming marketing sub-committees in the governorates, and addressing problems that may arise during the marketing season.
The need to import
Despite the expected improvement in the crop, Al-Ahmad said that Syria will still need to import part of its wheat needs, as the country needs about 4 million tons annually, especially soft wheat used in bread production.
The return of large numbers of Syrians to the country increases the pressure on local demand, as data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicates the return of about 1.64 million Syrians from December 8, 2024 until May 7, 2026, while the UNHCR said in separate estimates that the return of refugees and internally displaced persons has exceeded 3 million people since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The FAO says that wheat import requirements in the 2025-2026 marketing year were expected at about 3 million tons, about 70% higher than the 5-year average, after two consecutive years of weak domestic production, while economic turmoil and the decline of the currency continue to put pressure on the country’s ability to secure grain imports.
Purchase prices
The state buys local wheat through the Syrian Grain Corporation. The Ministry of Economy and Industry set the purchase price of a ton of first-class durum wheat, “mashul,” for the 2026 season at 46,000 new Syrian pounds (about 380 dollars), provided that executive instructions regarding the decision will be issued later.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa also issued a decree granting farmers an incentive reward of 9,000 new Syrian pounds (about 70 dollars) for every ton of wheat delivered to the Syrian Grain Corporation, in addition to the approved purchase price.
However, Reuters quoted farmers objecting to the new purchasing mechanism and season prices, as the government launched an electronic platform to organize reservations and set dates for delivering crops to grain centers, a step that some producers say does not fit the reality of the fields and the needs of farmers.
Reuters quoted farmer Abdullah Al-Issa as saying that the reservation platforms “are not suitable for agricultural fields,” adding that wheat prices this year are low compared to the value of the crop and its production costs, while last year the government incentive reward was higher at $130 for every ton delivered.
SANA says that the government is betting on supporting the cultivation of wheat as a strategic crop, through production requirements and improving marketing and storage policies, while the Ministry of Agriculture refers to a five-year plan between 2026 and 2030 that adopts improved, high-yielding varieties that are resistant to drought and disease, and adopts climate-smart agriculture.
