Harvest Set to Double
Syria expects its 2026 wheat harvest to roughly double, with official estimates putting output between 2.3 and 2.5 million tons. That compares with about 900,000 tons gathered a year earlier, according to an agriculture ministry spokesman, Ahmad Jalal Al-Ahmad, who described it as one of the country's stronger seasons in recent years.
Northeast Drives Output
The northern and northeastern provinces account for the bulk of the crop. Al-Hasakah is expected to deliver around 800,000 tons, Al-Raqqa about 300,000 tons and Deir ez-Zor roughly 250,000 tons.
Together, those three provinces make up close to 1.5 million tons of the projected national total, underlining how concentrated wheat growing remains in the country's east.
Government Purchase Terms
The purchase price for locally grown wheat was set at 380 US dollars (USD) per ton, with an additional incentive of about 70 dollars per ton paid to farmers on delivery. That brings the effective payment to roughly 450 dollars per ton for grain handed to state centers.
More than 15 new grain collection centers are planned across several provinces to receive the incoming harvest and handle the larger volumes.
Still Below Domestic Need
Even at the higher figure, production falls short of annual domestic demand estimated at about four million tons. The country is therefore expected to keep importing wheat to meet domestic needs through the year, leaving a sizable gap between local supply and consumption.
Rain After a Dry Year
The improved season was attributed to favorable rainfall and an expansion of cultivated areas, following a drought year that had sharply reduced agricultural output. The rebound eases some pressure on a strategic crop tied directly to food security.
Last year's crop of roughly 900,000 tons had been held down by the same dry conditions, making the projected recovery a notable swing for a sector that supports many rural households.