Kobani silos complete wheat procurement, receive over 60,000 tons
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Silos in Kobani city, northern Syria, have completed this season’s wheat procurement campaign, receiving more than 60,000 tons of wheat from local farmers since collections began on June 3, warehouse officials said on Thursday.
Mohammad Haj Mahmoud, warehouse manager at Chalabiya Silos south of Kobani, told North Press that the facility received 32,943.85 tons of bulk wheat from 1,382 farmers.
He said 22,214.83 tons have been shipped from Chalabiya Silos to mills in Aleppo, Latakia and Daraa, while 10,729.02 tons remain in storage.
Othman Faraj, warehouse manager at Rovi Silos, also south of Kobani, said the facility received 28,242 tons of bulk wheat from 1,350 farmers during the procurement campaign.
Faraj added that 18,350 tons have been transported from Rovi Silos to mills and silos in Aleppo, Tartous and Latakia.
The wheat procurement campaign in the Kobani countryside began on June 3 under a new system requiring farmers to reserve delivery appointments through an electronic platform.
Bulk wheat was received at the Rovi and Chalabiya silos, while bagged wheat was delivered to the silos in the town of Sirrin.
Farmers in Kobani receive payment for their wheat through the Agricultural Bank branch in Aleppo.
According to Syria’s state-run news agency SANA, Ahmad Qaddoun, Deputy Director-General of the Syrian Grain Corporation, said on Wednesday they received 2.7 million tons of wheat during the current harvest season, exceeding the country’s annual demand and achieving self-sufficiency in the staple crop.
He added that wheat procurement from farmers remains ongoing as long as economically viable quantities continue to be delivered to collection centers.