By Ahmad Othman
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Ahmad al-Muhammad hoped that his land would produce abundant cotton quantities to cover the costs he invested in the crop’s success, but his hopes were dashed when the harvest failed, resulting in significant losses.
al-Muhammad, 39, a resident of the town of al-Bahrah in eastern Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, planted his land with cotton, hoping for substantial financial income, especially since cotton is a strategic crop.
Due to rising costs, Ahmad was forced to reduce the cultivated area of his land. He planted only one hectare out of the five he owned to be able to complete the agricultural season. Despite this, he lost.
Farming in Deir ez-Zor requires significant expenses for plowing, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, all of which are related to the exchange rate of USD against Syrian Pound (SYP), in addition to fuel prices that have increased significantly with percentage 100% by a decision issued by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Although cotton harvest has started a month ago, the AANES has not priced the cotton crop yet. Last year, it priced per ton of cotton for about $800.
Al-Muhammad complains about the high costs of cotton farming, with the price of a bag of fertilizers reaching around 450,000 SYP. Each dunum (a unit of land area and is equal to 1,000 square meters) requires about two bags, which cost approximately 900,000 SYP for per dunum.
In addition to the cost of fuel, as one dunum consumes five liters each time of irrigation, and each cotton crop requires a minimum of seven times of irrigation. Farmers are forced to buy what they need on black market due to the authorities have not delivered allocated agricultural diesel quotas to them.
Farmers are unable to afford diesel from the black market, where its price has reached 3,500 SYP for each liter.
Additionally, the cost of pesticides, plowing, harvesting, and seeds, combined with a yield of no more than 200 kilograms per dunum.
Farmers have filed several complaints about the lack of support, but their complaints have received no response.
The cotton harvest in Deir ez-Zor countryside is underway. However, the AANES has not set a price for cotton and the parties who will receive it.
Cotton farmers’ suffering has worsened in Deir ez-Zor due to lack of support and absence of organizations’ positive role.
The lack of support by the AANES with diesel fuel threatens cotton farmers in Deir ez-Zor with failure of the agricultural season and a reduction in areas, after support declined during the recent period.
Muhammad al-Jolan, 35, a resident of the city of Hajin , eastern Deir ez-Zor, considers agriculture to be the “lifeblood” for the people of Deir ez-Zor and a primary source of income. The absence of agricultural support affects the economic conditions of farmers.
Al-Jolan struggles to secure diesel for irrigating his land, especially since he has planted a large area with cotton. He complains about the high prices of fertilizers and pesticides and expects his crop to fail, describing it as a bad harvest.
Cotton is considered a strategic crop in Syria, with a significant focus on its cultivation in the northeastern region, especially along the Euphrates River, where the largest areas are dedicated to it.
Al-Jolan calls for support in the form of providing fuel, fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation water to farmers’ lands. “We demand real support on the ground, and we do not accept unimplemented decisions”, he said.
Similarly, Shakhtour al-Sour, 38, is a resident from the town of al-Bahrah, complains about the lack of support for agriculture. He has only received fuel quotas for two times of irrigations, which is about one-third of the quantity allocated to his land.
The farmer points out that whoever wants to obtain his allocations of diesel and other fuels, he must pay bribes which prevent farmers from obtaining their allocations of diesel.
Farmers also complain about the absence of organizations’ role for supporting the agricultural sector, despite the region’s need for economic projects, especially since they rely primarily on agriculture.
Cotton farmers typically plant in mid-March and harvest in late September each year. Cotton cultivation increased two years ago because the AANES encourages farmers to do so. However, this year, farmers fear they may not receive their yields.