Harvesting of crops is continuing at a rapid pace in Hasakah province (northeastern Syria), with wheat quantities delivered since the start of the current season continuing to rise, amid signs of a relative improvement in production compared with previous years due to positive weather conditions and the expansion of cultivated areas in the region.
The assistant director of Hasakah Agriculture Directorate, engineer Ezzeddin al-Hasso, told Enab Baladi that the quantities of wheat delivered as of June 15 had reached about 62,000 tons, while crop deliveries continued to official receiving centers, as part of efforts to support local food security and secure farmers’ income.
Harvested Areas
According to Agriculture Directorate data reviewed by Enab Baladi, harvested irrigated wheat areas reached 24,700 hectares, compared with 105,200 hectares of rainfed wheat. Harvested barley areas reached 19,700 irrigated hectares and 223,600 rainfed hectares.
Meanwhile, harvested lentil areas reached 2,000 irrigated hectares and 15,300 rainfed hectares, reflecting the breadth of agricultural activity despite the climatic and economic challenges facing the sector.
This comes as Hasakah province continues to rely heavily on rainfed agriculture, with rainfed areas making up the largest share of total cultivated land, making agricultural production more closely tied to fluctuations in rainfall during the season.
Harvesters and Fuel Crisis
In the same context, the directorate’s data indicated that the number of harvesters operating in the province reached 902, an indication of the scale of agricultural activity during the current season. However, al-Hasso pointed to challenges related to fuel availability, explaining that the quantities that reached the province “do not meet the need” required to operate harvesters and keep harvesting operations running smoothly across different agricultural areas.
Registration on the Platform
He also said the administrative procedures for receiving crops are “smooth and easy,” but the main problem lies in the booking mechanism through the electronic platform. The platform is facing technical difficulties linked to weak internet services in the province, whether through the local satellite network or through the Syriatel and MTN networks, affecting farmers’ ability to register their turns and deliver their crops on time.
Expectations of Production Exceeding One Million Tons
The director of the Syrian Grain Establishment branch in al-Hasakah, Abdul Hamid Dawood, said the establishment expects to receive between 800,000 and one million tons of wheat during the 2026 season, while preliminary estimates indicate that total production in the Jazira region could reach around 1.2 million tons.
Dawood’s remarks came during a press interview in which he discussed the establishment’s preparations for the current season and the technical and logistical arrangements completed before the start of receiving operations.
Delayed Harvest Changes Receiving Schedule
In a related context, the current season saw a delay in the start of harvesting operations compared with previous years, leading to the postponement of receiving operations at grain centers from the beginning of June to the following week, according to the institution.
The delay is due to weather conditions in the region, as heavy rains improved crop growth on one hand, but also delayed wheat maturation and the start of harvesting operations on the other, affecting the delivery and receiving schedule.
Wide Network of Centers and Operational Preparations
According to the Syrian Grain Establishment, 20 centers have been prepared across different areas of al-Hasakah to receive wheat from farmers.
Dawood confirmed that these centers are operationally and technically ready, noting that they cover the governorate’s geography in a way that makes it easier for farmers to market their crops without having to travel long distances.
The centers include locations in al-Hasakah, Qamishli, Amuda, al-Malikiyah, al-Qahtaniyah, Tal Hamis, al-Yarubiyah, Ras al-Ain, Mabrouka, and other main agricultural areas in the governorate.
Despite the establishment’s expectations of receiving large quantities of the crop, Dawood acknowledged the possibility of some challenges related to storage capacity, due to the presence of reserve stocks from the previous season inside some silos and warehouses.
Reserve Stocks and Pressure on Storage Capacity
The director of the Syrian Grain Establishment branch said the current reserve stock in the governorate’s centers ranges between 400,000 and 500,000 tons of wheat.
He noted that transport operations are continuing in parallel with preparations for the current season, ensuring that no bottlenecks or delays occur in receiving farmers’ crops.
He confirmed that the establishment is committed to buying all quantities of wheat offered, explaining that receiving operations will continue as long as farmers have crops and will not stop at a specific time limit or quantity ceiling.
Digital Shift to Facilitate Deliveries
In a new organizational step, the Syrian Grain Establishment adopted an electronic platform to book turns at receiving centers, with the aim of reducing crowding and facilitating delivery procedures for farmers.
The platform allows farmers to register their data and choose the appropriate center to deliver the crop, enabling transactions to be completed within only one day, according to the institution, in an attempt to reduce waiting periods and improve work efficiency during the peak season.
Prices and Payment Mechanism
The government set the purchase price for a ton of first-grade wheat at 5.5 million Syrian pounds, with prices varying according to quality grades, as the institution receives wheat in all four grades under approved technical standards for inspection and classification.
It also explained that farmers’ payments will be disbursed through designated banks in Hasakah, Qamishli, and al-Darbasiyah after a short period following crop delivery, to ensure fast circulation of financial liquidity and support farmers during the season.
Solar Energy to Ensure Work Continuity
As part of efforts to strengthen operational infrastructure, the institution launched a project to install solar energy systems at receiving and storage centers, with the aim of ensuring work continuity in the event of power outages, in addition to supporting monitoring systems and cameras.
The project covers a wide number of centers in the province, reflecting the institution’s shift toward greater reliance on alternative energy sources to ensure stable wheat delivery operations during a season expected to be among the largest in recent years.
As harvesting and wheat deliveries continue in Hasakah, the relevant institutions appear to be facing a real test this season in managing large production quantities, amid hopes that the improved output will help stabilize markets and improve farmers’ conditions in the region during a season described as one of the most abundant in recent years.
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