Syrian Prime Minister: Wheat purchased from farmers only sufficient for a month and a half

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous said that the amount of wheat purchased from the country’s farms is only sufficient for a month and a half for bread production.

Arnous said that during the current year, 960,000 tons of wheat were purchased, 300,000 tons of which were purchased in Hasakah.

The prime minister’s talk came in a government meeting with the General Federation of Trade Unions, reported by the pro-government Watan newspaper.

Arnous indicated that wheat is bought today at $280 per ton. “The government is obligated to make tough decisions and is not happy with that,” he explained.

Syria’s need for wheat amounts to 1,200,000 tons of imports, according to the prime minister.

Arnous did not deny the possibility of the continuation of the fuel crisis and other economic crises.

The areas held by the Syrian government witnessed long queues at the gates of public and private bakeries to obtain bread.

About a month ago, the Syrian government issued a decision stipulating the distribution of bread via a smart card, and determined the share of bread for each family with the aim of reducing gatherings in front of the bakeries.

However, photos circulated of huge gatherings in front of bakeries, in the absence of preventative measures.

Local sources in Damascus told North Press that the price of a bread bundle in the black market reached 700 Syrian pounds.