Farmers work on wheat harvest in Syria's northeastern province of Al-Hasakah, June 10, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)
by Hummam Sheikh Ali
HASAKAH, Syria, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Wheat farmers in the fertile plains of Al-Hasakah province in northeastern Syria have experienced a season of mixed fortunes this year -- abundant rainfall is promising a plentiful harvest, but the presence of U.S. and Kurdish forces in the region has diminished prospects for a good sale of the farmers' produce.
"Despite the good season, unfortunately, prices are very low. We hope to find a solution. Most people are holding onto their wheat crop, hoping for increased prices," Tariq Al-Ali, a farmer from the countryside of Amouda in Al-Hasakah, told Xinhua.
In addition to low prices, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls the area, also lack fuel support for farmers to operate the necessary farm equipment and machinery during the harvest, said Al-Ali, adding that he has decided to retain his wheat crop.
Ibrahim Jouhar, another wheat farmer in the region, expressed a preference for selling their harvest to the government because of the favorable prices.
"If we go to other places, our harvest may not sell for 10 days, and they won't offer a good price ... but in government-controlled areas, the procedures are efficient, and we don't have to wait too long," he explained.
The government offers a price of 5,500 Syrian pounds per kg for wheat, whereas the SDF offers a range between 3,808 to 4,080 Syrian pounds per kg, approximately equivalent to 28-30 U.S. cents based on the current exchange rate.
However, the U.S. forces and the SDF in the area have been preventing local farmers from selling their wheat to the government, according to Mohammed Al-Mohammed, a member of the Syrian Farmers' Union in Al-Hasakah.
"There is a difficulty for farmers in transporting grains and wheat from the workplace to the state grain centers due to the American occupation, which is the biggest obstacle in this region and province," Al-Mohammed told Xinhua.
Any vehicle transporting wheat to the government-controlled areas would be confiscated, and the farmer would be fined at any checkpoint manned by the SDF forces, he added.
Al-Hasakah is strategically important due to its oil and natural gas reserves. The province is also a major agricultural center known for its wheat and cotton. While the Syrian government controls a security zone in the province, the U.S.-backed Kurdish militias control vast areas.
Before the U.S. presence in northeastern Syria, Al-Hasakah alone produced 900,000 to 1.4 million tons of wheat annually.
However, according to Ammar Al-Ahmad, director of the Syrian Grain Corporation branch in Al-Hasakah, only 122,000 tons have been sold to government centers this year.
"If it wasn't for the presence of the American occupation in the province, the quantity would have doubled," said Al-Ahmad, sighing, "Wherever the American occupiers are, there's chaos and difficulties for the people." ■
Farmers work on wheat harvest in Syria's northeastern province of Al-Hasakah, June 11, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)
