Delayed wheat payments in Hasakah deepen farmers’ hardship

The wheat marketing season in Hasakah Governorate, which officially began on June 11, 2026, following the start of harvesting operations on June 8, has faced significant complications, with logistical challenges compounded by a financial crisis that has sparked widespread frustration among farmers.

Although the authorities announced that around 20 to 21 collection centers and silos had been prepared to receive the crop, and introduced an electronic registration system through a dedicated platform to organize delivery schedules and reduce congestion, these measures did not shield farmers from financial difficulties.

The city of Hasakah accounted for approximately 42% of the total wheat quantities received across Syria during June, according to the figures cited in the report.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry set the purchase price for first-grade durum wheat, at 46,000 new Syrian pounds per ton, equivalent to approximately $330–340 at parallel-market exchange rates when the price was announced.

However, hopes for a smooth marketing season quickly turned into a wave of complaints, as several farmers who had delivered their crops through the electronic platform said they had yet to receive their payments.

Farmers said the delay in receiving payment for their crops has placed them in a difficult economic and livelihood situation, threatening their ability to repay accumulated debts owed to fertilizer companies, fuel suppliers, combine-harvester owners, and agricultural workers. They also said the delays were preventing them from making plans for the upcoming agricultural seasons.

The farmers called for immediate intervention to ensure that their payments are made quickly and in cash, without complicated banking procedures, in order to prevent further economic losses under the current circumstances.

Farmers: we have not received our payments for months

Speaking about the crisis, farmer Mutaab Issa said: “I shipped four truckloads of wheat more than three months ago, specifically on June 16, with each truck carrying 45 tons. Until now, I have not received a single Syrian pound.”

Issa said he had refused to accept payments in installments, explaining that the authorities were withholding invoices covering dozens of tons while offering a single payment of no more than 100 million Syrian pounds.

“I refused to accept this partial payment because it would cover only a small portion of my outstanding obligations, including harvesting and tractor costs, as well as the cost of seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural pesticides. It would be better for me and for other farmers to receive our money in full in a single payment, or at least receive the value of each truckload separately. Installment payments are completely unacceptable. Even traders have never treated us this way,” he said.

Issa warned that if the situation continues, farmers may be forced to abandon their land and refrain from cultivating it.

Meanwhile, local resident Ali Issa referred to recent promises made by the Directorate of Finance. He said official statements indicated that payment of outstanding invoices would begin during October, but noted that farmers are genuinely concerned that the crisis could continue and that their invoices could remain unpaid until next year.

Invoices for crops transported to rural Damascus suspended

Farmer Ismail Mohammed spoke of another crisis affecting farmers in Hasakah whose crops were transported outside the governorate.

“Because of the heavy pressure on wheat collection centers in Hasakah city, the Director-General of Agriculture offered to redirect our shipments to other governorates to speed up the process. We agreed in order to avoid the long wait, and my three truckloads were sent to the al-Dumayr and al-Kiswah silos in rural Damascus,” he said.

Ismail added: “The crop was inspected and subjected to monitoring, and we received official delivery receipts on June 26. But a few days ago, we were surprised to find that our invoices had been completely suspended by a committee in Damascus, without any justification.”

Ismail stressed that the wheat had been delivered to state institutions, not traders. He argued that if corruption or bribery had occurred inside the silos, the relevant authorities should hold the employees involved accountable rather than making farmers bear the consequences of the investigations and wait for their outcome.

Ismail concluded by saying that the governorates of Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, and Raqqa are suffering from a complete economic paralysis and a lack of cash liquidity, despite the abundance of wheat production this year.

He noted that selling the crop to traders, even at a price lower than the official rate, has become an option for some farmers because it guarantees payment in cash on the same day rather than forcing them to wait for months.

He described the situation in October as a shock to farmers who had been expecting government support, only to face further delays attributed to a lack of liquidity.

Official promises to pay outstanding wheat invoices

Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the Hasakah Governorate building, bringing together Deputy Governor Ahmad al-Hilali, members of the executive office, and a number of farmers to discuss the crisis surrounding delays in wheat payments.

According to the issues raised during the meeting, officials pledged to pay all outstanding wheat invoices by the end of October 2026.

Officials attributed the delays to exceptional circumstances, most notably the silos being filled with produce from previous seasons, the evacuation and replacement of some storage facilities, and procedures related to reviewing complaints involving farmers who had transported their crops outside the governorate, including to Homs and Damascus. The value of those crops has yet to be paid.

ANHA