AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – Despite the significant improvement in the 2026 wheat season in the countryside of Afrin, northwestern Syria, driven by abundant rainfall and higher production compared with previous years, farmers have not fully benefited from the increase. Several farmers say rising cultivation costs and lower selling prices have turned a good season into an economic burden that failed to deliver the expected returns.
While farmers say higher production was not enough to offset expenses for seeds, fertilizer, fuel, harvesting and transportation, agricultural authorities describe the current season as one of the good seasons and say the crop collection process proceeded smoothly, with some difficulties related to a shortage of harvesting machinery.
Abundant production
Ahmad Abdo, a farmer, told North Press that this year’s wheat crop was good, but said the main problem was low prices compared with expenses.
Abdo said, “I planted wheat this year, and the production was good. It was a bountiful season, but the prices were not satisfactory, as production costs were high. Fertilizer was expensive, and buying and selling activity was weak.”
He said the price of a ton of wheat ranged between $260 and $275, noting that higher prices for seeds, diesel and fertilizer reduced farmers’ profits. He added that some crops did not meet the required specifications because wheat was mixed with barley.
Abdo said he planted three dunams and that production during the current season ranged between 40 and 55 sacks per hectare, compared with a weak previous season. At the time, some farmers produced little or nothing unless irrigation was available, while those who were able to irrigate produced only around 20 to 25 sacks per hectare.
He said the crop was affected by some fungal diseases, prompting farmers to use pesticides. Some areas also experienced fires that were brought under control. He stressed that the biggest problem remained low prices that did not match production costs.
Losses despite improved season
Saleh Hassan, a farmer from Kurzeleh village told North Press that this season was better than last year in terms of production, but failed to generate the expected profits because of high expenses.
Hassan said last year’s season was particularly difficult for him. He planted three dunams at a cost of about $2,500 for diesel and agricultural expenses, but was forced to sell the crop for no more than $1,200.
He added that irrigation water was unavailable this season, so he planted only one dunam, from which he produced four tons. However, he encountered marketing difficulties after his crop was deemed to be mixed with barley.
He said the sales did not cover his costs, explaining that seeds alone cost about $300, while fertilizer cost another $300, in addition to expenses for preparing the land, spraying pesticides and agricultural treatments.
He also said farmers faced problems caused by the spread of agricultural diseases and efforts to address wheat-barley contamination, as well as higher labor costs. He noted that loading workers’ wages during harvesting reached about $150.
Hassan said abundant rainfall improved production this year compared with the previous season, but considered lower prices and higher costs to have resulted in losses for many farmers.
“In the end, I had no profit left.”
Seed, marketing problems
Rizan Abdo, another farmer, said the current season was better than previous years, which were marked by drought that caused major losses for farmers in the Afrin plains.
Abdo told North Press that rainfall this year reduced irrigation and fuel costs, but said other problems continued to affect farmers, most notably higher plowing costs and increased prices for seeds, fertilizer and pesticides.
He said part of the problem was related to seed quality, explaining that some farmers received unsorted seeds in which wheat was mixed with barley and only discovered the problem after the crop had grown.
He added that harvesting costs were another burden. Farmers had expected them to decline, but they ranged between $120 and $150 in some areas, whereas they were expected to remain around $100 or less.
He said marketing problems also persisted, as some entities refused to accept crops that did not meet full purity standards, forcing some farmers to sell their produce to traders at low prices.
Abdo called on government authorities to intervene to improve wheat cultivation, crop collection and marketing mechanisms, ensuring that farmers receive returns that allow them to continue agricultural work.
Official figures
Despite farmers’ complaints, the Afrin Agriculture Department says this year’s wheat season was good in terms of production and that crop collection proceeded through an organized mechanism.
Mohammad Abdullah, Agricultural engineer of the Afrin Agriculture Department, told North Press that wheat collection began on June 14 this year under instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture. He said the process involved issuing certificates of origin to farmers and scheduling deliveries through an electronic platform established by the relevant authorities.
Abdullah said the Afrin Agriculture Department issued 871 certificates of origin to 718 farmers, noting that about 17,500 tons of wheat were delivered to grain collection centers.
He said the delivery procedures were smooth, with farmers receiving certificates of origin and then booking appointments through the electronic platform to market their crops on the designated date. He stressed that the process faced no major obstacles.
He added that the agricultural season was good thanks to adequate rainfall, which contributed to higher production. The main difficulties faced by farmers, he said, were a shortage of harvesters and high harvesting costs.
Abdullah noted that delays in harvesting caused some farmers to lose part of their production, as delaying the collection of wheat after it ripens can result in crop losses. However, he said the remaining stages of the collection process were smooth and straightforward.
While official figures reflect the volume of production achieved during the current season, farmers’ accounts reveal a gap between abundant output and its economic returns. This puts support for wheat cultivation in the countryside of Afrin before challenges related to production costs, seed quality and marketing mechanisms, all of which affect farmers’ ability to continue this essential crop.