Rising fuel prices threaten wheat, vegetable farming in Jazira 

At a time when fields would normally be bustling with activity as farmers prepare and plow their land for the new agricultural season, large areas of the Jazira region remain largely inactive. Farmers are unable to begin cultivation due to rising production costs and a shortage of cash, amid continued delays in paying outstanding invoices for wheat delivered to the relevant authorities during the previous season.

Farmers say the delayed payments have deprived them of the cash they rely on to purchase seeds and fertilizers, secure fuel, and cover plowing costs. Meanwhile, debts owed to agricultural supply shops have accumulated, making preparations for the new season increasingly difficult, particularly as diesel prices rise and the agricultural support they previously received is no longer available.

The crisis extends beyond delays in plowing. Some farmers have decided to abandon wheat cultivation, one of the region’s main strategic crops, while others are giving up on winter vegetables and greenhouse farming because of the rising costs of operating generators and pumping the water needed for irrigation.

Farmers abandon cultivation

In the countryside of Tirbespiye, farmer Delberin Yusuf describes the current season as difficult. He says land that would normally be prepared at this time of year has not yet been plowed because of rising agricultural production costs and the unavailability of subsidized diesel.

Yusuf said, “At this time every year, my land would already have been plowed and fully prepared. Today, tractor operators are demanding astronomical amounts per hectare because diesel is no longer available at the subsidized price. We still haven’t received full payment for our previous wheat deliveries, so how are we supposed to plant wheat again?.”

He added that these conditions are creating a serious problem for agriculture and called for urgent solutions to support the sector, pay farmers the outstanding amounts owed for their wheat crops, and restore the subsidized agricultural diesel previously provided by the Autonomous Administration.

These demands highlight the close link between cash availability and fuel costs in determining farmers’ ability to continue production. Delayed payments affect not only the previous season but also farmers’ ability to finance the new one, from plowing their land to securing agricultural and irrigation supplies.

Winter vegetables face decline as production costs exceed farmers’ means

The crisis is also affecting vegetable farming, which depends heavily on regular irrigation and the availability of fuel to operate water pumps. Rising fuel prices have therefore become a decisive factor in determining whether cultivation remains economically viable.

In the countryside of Qamishlo, Shahin Suleiman, a vegetable farmer, told ANHA agency that continued increases in fuel prices have turned vegetable farming into a financial burden he can no longer afford, given the need for regular irrigation and diesel-powered pumps.

Suleiman explained that, at current fuel prices, production costs have exceeded selling prices.

He said, “We will not grow vegetables this season because it would mean a certain and immediate loss.”

Farmers’ withdrawal from winter vegetable cultivation and greenhouse farming threatens to reduce local supplies in the coming months. This could increase reliance on imported produce and raise the costs of bringing it to markets, at a time when households are facing mounting living expenses and declining purchasing power.

From previous subsidies to the open market: How agricultural diesel costs have changed

Agricultural committees and their directorates in North and East Syria previously allocated subsidized diesel for farming operations at a price of 1,300 Syrian pounds per liter, under a system that took into account the type of land, crops, and irrigation requirements.

Under the previous system adopted by agricultural committees, 20 liters were allocated per dunum for each irrigation cycle on land dependent on artesian wells. Farms belonging to agricultural and cooperative associations received 10–12 liters per dunum, while fields near the banks of the Euphrates River received 10 liters per dunum. This allocation was reduced to five liters when an electricity supply line was available.

An additional five liters of diesel per dunum was allocated for plowing at the beginning of the season on irrigated land, compared with two liters per dunum for rain-fed land.

During the summer agricultural season, the distribution system covered strategic crops, vegetables, and fruit trees. Cotton fields received 20 liters per dunum, distributed in seven installments. Summer vegetables received four installments of 10 liters per dunum each. Fruit trees and olive groves received five liters per dunum, distributed in four installments.

These allocations were provided periodically through the installments approved by the agricultural and fuel committees. Farmers were required to hold an agricultural license and provide the necessary documentation related to the laser or smart cards used for pumps and tractors.

In September, the transitional government sharply raised the price of diesel to 17,500 Syrian pounds per liter and ended agricultural subsidies. Farmers have since been forced to bear higher costs for preparing their land and operating irrigation pumps, increasing production expenses and weakening their crops’ competitiveness in terms of price.

By the numbers: How much does it cost to grow one dunum of wheat?

Cost estimates illustrate the burden on farmers, particularly those cultivating land irrigated by artesian wells. With diesel priced at $1.25 per liter, preparing a dunum of land and irrigating it can incur substantial expenses before other production costs are taken into account.

Assuming that plowing one dunum requires five liters of diesel, the fuel costs $6.25. Seeds weighing 25–30 kilograms cost $12–15, fertilizers cost approximately $35, land preparation services cost $15, harvesting costs $12–15, and weed control and pesticides cost around $5. Irrigation diesel, calculated at 20 liters per irrigation cycle per dunum, costs $25 per cycle.

Assuming the crop requires four to six winter irrigation cycles, depending on rainfall, irrigation alone costs between $100 and $150 per dunum. This represents a significant burden on farmers, particularly given delayed payments and the lack of cash needed to cover expenses.

Estimates indicate that a ton of seed wheat costs approximately $430–500, based on the pricing set by the General Seed Multiplication Establishment. Fertilizers cost around $35 per dunum. Some farmers rely partly on subsidized organic fertilizer, priced at approximately $140 per ton, while others turn to chemical fertilizers available on the black market.

Additional expenses include plowing and harvesting fees, weed control and pesticides, transporting crops to receiving centers, burlap sacks, irrigation network repairs, and other costs that can further increase total expenditure.

According to these estimates, the cost of producing wheat on one irrigated dunum requiring four to six irrigation cycles exceeds $185 and may surpass $240 before certain indirect expenses are included.

Production costs versus wheat purchase prices: Where does the profit margin go?

The economic viability of wheat cultivation becomes even more questionable when production costs are compared with expected revenue. Average wheat yields range from 300 to 400 kilograms per dunum, while purchase prices in recent seasons have ranged from $330 to $340 per ton.

Based on these figures, gross revenue per dunum ranges from $99 to $136, assuming a purchase price of $330–340 per ton. If the purchase price reaches approximately $340 per ton and production reaches 500 kilograms per dunum, revenue would amount to $170.

This comparison shows that expected revenue may not cover production costs on land that depends on intensive irrigation and expensive diesel, particularly once transportation, storage, and maintenance expenses are added. The economics are different for rain-fed land, which relies on rainfall and requires less fuel.

Declining wheat and vegetable cultivation threatens food security

The consequences of the crisis extend beyond farmers to the region’s entire food security system. A reduction in the area planted with wheat could decrease local supplies available for milling and bread production, increasing the need to secure additional quantities from outside the region. Meanwhile, declining local vegetable production could drive up prices and increase dependence on imported produce.

Lower agricultural output also affects related economic activities, from agricultural machinery operators and seed and fertilizer shops to harvesting, transportation, and storage workers. The prolonged crisis therefore threatens livelihoods and employment opportunities in rural areas, with consequences extending beyond the current season.

Farmers fear that continued increases in production costs and delays in payments will lead more of them to abandon essential crops, weakening the region’s ability to meet its food needs locally and making markets more vulnerable to price fluctuations and import costs.

Farmers demand payment of outstanding dues and subsidized diesel

In response to the situation, farmers in the region are calling on the relevant administrative authorities to accelerate payment of the outstanding amounts owed for last season’s wheat deliveries and provide sufficient quantities of agricultural diesel at subsidized prices. They say this would allow them to begin plowing, prepare their land, and purchase seeds and fertilizers before the appropriate planting windows pass.

They also stress that fuel subsidies are essential to maintaining agricultural production, particularly on irrigated land, where the cost of each irrigation cycle is directly linked to the price of the fuel used to operate pumps.

As preparations for the new agricultural season continue, farmers’ ability to return to their fields will depend on how quickly the outstanding payment crisis is resolved and whether production supplies can be made available at prices commensurate with the expected returns from their crops. Farmers warn that if current conditions persist, the consequences will be felt in wheat and vegetable production, food prices, and food security across the Jazira region in the coming months.

A-H 

ANHA