Delayed wheat payments threaten new farming season

Farmers in the Garkê Legê area of the Jazira are facing delays in receiving payments for their wheat crops from the transitional government, adding to their financial burdens and hindering preparations for the new agricultural season amid rising fuel prices and the increasing costs of plowing land and securing agricultural supplies.

The farmers are calling for the delayed crop invoices to be paid as soon as possible, saying most of them have not received their dues for more than three months. They also have to pay the owners of harvesters and tractors and workers, while securing seeds and fertilizers and plowing their land as preparations for the new agricultural season, which is now due to begin.

Farmer Hussein Suleiman said they delivered their wheat crops more than three months ago but have yet to receive their payments. He explained that harvester and tractor owners are demanding their fees, while the farmers have not yet received their dues, leaving them waiting for the payments to settle these debts.

“As farmers, we are waiting for our invoices to be paid. If our dues do not arrive, we will not be able to start the agricultural season, especially with fuel prices rising and the cost of plowing the land becoming increasingly difficult to cover.”

Suleiman said the arrival of the planting season has increased farmers’ concerns, noting that many are unable to buy seeds and fertilizers or pay the costs of plowing their land because of the delayed payments.

Farmer Shaker al-Miftah said the reliance of people in the Jazira on agriculture means that delays in paying the invoices have a direct impact on their livelihoods.

He said farmers rely on payments for their crops to meet their basic needs and secure supplies for the agricultural season, calling on the transitional government to expedite the payment of all outstanding dues.

“Farmers are the backbone of the community’s economy. If we do not receive our payments, how will we be able to buy seeds and cultivate our land?”

Al-Miftah warned that continued delays in paying the invoices would further worsen living conditions, urging the authorities to take farmers’ circumstances into account and expedite the payment of their dues.

Farmer Subhi Habash said the costs of plowing land and workers’ wages have accumulated as debts for farmers while they wait for their crop invoices to be paid.

He said they cannot pay workers and tractor owners, buy seeds or begin cultivating their land until their dues are paid.

“We have been waiting for our invoices to be paid for four months. We call for our dues to be paid without further delay, because continued delays place a heavy burden on farmers and threaten their ability to continue the agricultural season.”

a.k

ANHA