Farmers in Deir ez-Zor complain about agricultural support shortage
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, farmers in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, complained about losses resulted in the lack of agricultural support, mainly fuel and fertilizers, provided by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Due to the lack of support, we were forced to pay 1.500 SYP for each liter of fuel from the black market, farmers said.
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.
They added that they water their fields six times a week, but the subsidized fuel provided by the AANES at 85 SYP is sufficient only for three times.
Other farmers noted to the high prices of fertilizers and seeds, the matter may threaten their crops, as they put it.
An official of Agriculture and Irrigation Committee in Deir ez-Zor Civil Council of the AANES said they have distributed 3.500 tons of wheat seeds and fertilizers to the farmers at the subsidized price.
Committees of agriculture in northeast Syria have started distributing wheat seeds to the farmers since mid-September.
Sa’id al-Sayyed, head of Agricultural Affairs in Deir ez-Zor Civil Council said they distributed 3.500 tons of wheat seeds in the whole countryside of Deir ez-Zor.
He added that they provided 35 kg of sterilized seeds for each acre at 2.300 SYP.
They also provided 35 kg of nitrogen fertilizers and 30 kg of phosphate fertilizers for each acre at $730 per ton.