Economic and Agriculture Authority of North and East Syria announces price of wheat seeds for farmers amid water insecurity caused by Turkey

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — On Thursday, the Economic and Agricultural Authority of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria set the price of wheat seeds for farmers at 360 Syrian Pounds per kg.

According to a circular distributed by the Authority, the wheat distribution process will begin on 10 September. The process will be conducted by the regional Directorates of Agriculture in each region.

“The final price was set after several meetings with the Directorates of Agriculture and the Agricultural Community Development Company,” Co-Chair of the Economic and Agriculture Authority of the DAA, Salman Barodo, stated.

“Wheat seeds are being sifted, sterilized, and put in bags in the DAA agricultural development centers,” he added. “The distribution will be in cash and will include irrigated and rainfed lands,” he added.

Barodo indicated that the quantities dedicated to each farmer will be determined during an upcoming meeting of the Authority.

“Moreover, 500,000 tons of wheat will be purchased from farmers, as a plan for the next agricultural season,” Barodo concluded.

In mid-June of this year, to ensure farmers are fairly compensated for their harvest, the DAA fixed the price of wheat to the U.S. Dollar to help mitigate the negative effects of the crashing Syrian Pound.

Farmers in North and East Syria have been under immense pressure this year as the Syrian economy all but collapses and Turkey engages in a systematic campaign to undermine the food and water security of the region.

Over the past three months, Turkey has repeatedly, depriving hundreds of thousands of civilians of water and food security and have reduced the level of water flowing from the Euphrates River, causing scarcity in the water necessary for drinking, agriculture, and the generation of electricity.

General Administration of Dams in Euphrates Region Engineer and head of operations at the Tishrin Dam Jihad Bayram, told North Press Agency that, “According to international agreements, the water intake should be 500 cubic meters per second, whereas now it is 200 cubic meters per second.”

An agreement signed in 1987 between Syria and Turkey dictates the water flow of the Euphrates.

“Turkey besieges [northeast Syria] by controlling the water supply of the region,” added Bayram.

The farmers of the Euphrates basin depend on water from the river to irrigate the approximately 400,000 hectares of wheat fields and fruit orchards. Moreover, the Euphrates River is one of the largest sources of electric power generation in the country.