Harvest Rebounds From 60-Year Drought
Syria's wheat production is projected to reach roughly 2.3 million tons in the 2026 season, a relative recovery after one of the worst drought years in approximately 60 years. Better rainfall distribution and stepped-up agricultural support encouraged farmers to expand cultivated areas and improve crop care.
Plan Implementation Falls Short
Farmers implemented about 86% of the official agricultural plan, planting roughly 1.2 million hectares out of a 1.4 million hectare target. The cultivated area was split between approximately 505,000 irrigated hectares and 763,000 rain-fed hectares.
Officials said output could have reached 2.8 million tons had the full plan been executed, leaving a sizable gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground delivery this season.
Imports Keep Reserves Topped Up
To bolster strategic reserves, the government continued wheat imports, recently bringing in 70,000 tons via three ships docked at Tartous port. That lifts cumulative imports to 1.3 million tons across 57 shipments. Since 2011, Syria has leaned heavily on Russia for wheat supplies through bilateral agreements and public tenders.
Looking To 2030
The 2026-2030 agricultural plan targets stronger food security through improved water and land management, the adoption of drought-resistant varieties, and expanded private sector participation. The aim is to reduce volatility in domestic supply and curb reliance on imports during dry years.
Why The Harvest Matters
Each annual wheat figure is closely watched in Syria because a larger domestic harvest reduces the volume the government must import to meet domestic consumption, while shortfalls raise the foreign-currency bill for grain shipments. The current outlook offers a partial buffer after a season the agriculture sector has described as historically severe.