Lack of support, rising costs force farmers in Jazira to scale back cultivation

Farmers in the Jazira region are facing difficulties preparing for the new agricultural season amid rising prices for seeds, fertilizers, and fuel, increasing plowing costs, and delays in the payment of outstanding dues for last season’s wheat harvest. These challenges are pushing them to reduce irrigated farmland and turn to rain-fed agriculture, which is less expensive.

Farmer Nabil Yukhna said rising production costs and the absence of agricultural support were hindering preparations for the new season. He added that the failure to receive payments for their wheat crops had further exacerbated farmers’ financial difficulties and weakened their ability to purchase agricultural supplies.

Reduction in irrigated farmland

Yukhna explained that farmers had begun plowing and preparing their land for wheat and barley cultivation, but rising expenses had forced them to reduce irrigated areas and switch to rain-fed farming.

He noted that he had allocated approximately 500 dunams to irrigated agriculture last season, whereas he plans to cultivate only between 150 and 200 dunams this season due to rising costs and difficulties securing the necessary cash.

He stressed that the continued absence of support and delays in payments were forcing farmers to scale back cultivation. He warned that these conditions would lead to a reduction in cultivated areas, negatively affecting agricultural production across the region.

Rising seed and fertilizer prices

Yukhna explained that the price of a ton of high-quality wheat seed sold by traders had risen from approximately $320–$350 last season to around $600 this season. Meanwhile, other, lower-quality varieties were selling for between $400 and $450 per ton.

He added that the price of a ton of fertilizer had increased from approximately $350 to $500, placing an additional burden on farmers, particularly because crops require fertilization at different stages of growth.

He pointed out that rising prices and the lack of support were limiting farmers’ ability to secure the required quantities of supplies at the appropriate time.

Doubling costs of plowing and fuel

Regarding fuel, Yukhna said the price of diesel at fuel stations stood at approximately 175 new Syrian pounds per liter. Fuel expenses were adding to the cost of operating agricultural machinery and preparing farmland.

He explained that the cost of plowing one dunam had risen from approximately $7–$10 last season to around $20 this season, and could exceed that amount depending on the type of plowing and the services required.

He noted that these expenses placed a particularly heavy burden on farmers who did not own tractors and were forced to rent machinery to prepare their land.

Calls for timely agricultural support

Yukhna called for outstanding payments to farmers to be settled and for seeds, fertilizers, and fuel to be made available at affordable prices and on time, enabling farmers to continue cultivating their land and preserve cultivated areas.

He emphasized that providing support after the deadlines for land preparation and seed purchases had passed would fail to deliver the intended benefits.

He warned that continued price increases, the absence of support, and delays in financial payments could lead to a decline in agricultural production during the coming season and negatively affect the livelihoods of families dependent on farming.

Yukhna concluded by stressing that agriculture in the Jazira region required genuine attention and tangible support. He called for urgent measures to ease the burden on farmers and ensure that essential production supplies were available when needed.

ANHA