Farmers, traders in Derbasiyah call for swift delivery of crop invoices

Farmers and traders in al-Jazira region are facing increasing economic pressures due to delays in the payment of wheat crop entitlements for the current season, amid mounting debts and rising production costs. Farmer Khoshnaw Isso, from the city of Derbasiyah, says that “the delay in delivering invoices for the wheat crop for the current season has caused significant harm to farmers, as most of them have been forced to borrow money to secure agricultural supplies such as seeds and fertilizers while their financial entitlements remain unpaid.”

He explained that the delay has also affected commercial activity in the region, noting that a farmer who does not receive his dues is unable to repay his debts or secure the needs of the new season. This, in turn, affects shop owners and sectors connected to the agricultural season.

He said he had delivered approximately 200 tons of wheat worth around 800 million Syrian pounds, but had so far received only 100 million pounds. This leaves him facing a long wait to receive the remainder of his dues, at a time when a new agricultural season has begun without the full payment of the previous season’s entitlements.

He pointed out that in previous years, farmers used to receive their invoices in a single payment, which enabled them to repay their debts and secure the requirements of the new season. The current delays, however, have increased the economic difficulties they are facing.

He also highlighted the rising costs of agriculture, particularly the price of diesel used to operate irrigation pumps. He explained that operating a pump requires approximately 440 liters of diesel per day, increasing the burden on farmers and limiting their ability to irrigate and cultivate their land.

He called on the relevant authorities and government bodies in Al-Hasakah Governorate to intervene and accelerate the distribution of farmers’ invoices and the payment of their entitlements. He warned that continued delays would further exacerbate their hardships and hinder their ability to pay workers’ wages and secure the requirements of the new agricultural season. He stressed that the region relies heavily on agriculture and that delays in payments would worsen the economic difficulties facing the agricultural sector.

For his part, trader Ahmad Isso, from the city of Derbasiyah, said that delays in delivering crop invoices have a direct impact on farmers, citizens, and commercial activity in the region. He pointed to the difficulties residents of the area have faced over the past four years as a result of poor agricultural seasons, which forced many of them to borrow money to meet their needs and continue their agricultural activities.

He explained that the improvement in the agricultural season this year has not had the expected impact on residents’ lives because the delivery of invoices continues to be delayed. He noted that a large number of residents still rely on credit from commercial shops to meet their needs, pending receipt of their entitlements and repayment of their debts.

He added that he had provided seeds to farmers, but part of the money owed to him remains outstanding with residents who, in turn, are waiting to receive the value of their invoices so they can repay their debts to traders and shop owners. He noted that some of these debts date back to previous years and have still not been paid.

He pointed out that the continued rise in diesel prices has increased the economic burden on residents, explaining that higher diesel prices affect various businesses and sectors in the region amid limited employment opportunities and many residents’ inability to afford its cost.

He called for an expedited solution to the problem of delayed invoice delivery and for measures to reduce the burden of diesel costs, in addition to improving employees’ wages, which would help residents meet their living expenses. He stressed that many activities in the region are directly dependent on the availability and price of diesel.

ANHA