Damascus: After years of declining domestic production in Syria and reliance on imports, the country is restoring self-sufficiency in one of its most important strategic crops this season, with wheat production exceeding domestic needs for the first time in years. This improvement comes after an excellent agricultural season, driven by increased local production, with quantities received exceeding annual domestic needs.
According to Qatar News Agency, Director General of the Syrian Grain Establishment Eng. Hassan Al Othman revealed that the quantities of wheat have reached about 2.72 million tons so far. He explained that the receiving operations are still continuing in some centers, but in limited quantities as the season approaches its end.
Eng. Al Othman noted that the General Organization for Seed Multiplication, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, is also receiving wheat designated as seed for the next agricultural season, indicating that the actual total production exceeds the quantities delivered to warehouses. He highlighted that the current season is excellent compared to the 2024 and 2025 seasons, when production was significantly lower due to dry climate conditions and policies pursued by the previous government.
He stated that Syria's annual need for wheat is about 2.55 million tons, while the quantities received this year have surpassed this need, enabling the country to achieve self-sufficiency and establish a strategic stock of wheat. He suggested that Syria is poised to move from self-sufficiency to achieving a surplus in wheat production, reminiscent of the pre-2010 era when Syria was a wheat exporter to European countries.
Eng. Al Othman expressed optimism about restoring past production levels with the return of stability and improved climatic conditions, expecting a gradual increase in production in the coming years. He emphasized that the establishment is working on rehabilitating facilities to accommodate larger quantities of production.
He further explained that the Syrian Grain Establishment, although not directly responsible for farmer support, has facilitated delivery operations and encouraged farmers by equipping 84 receiving centers and forming specialized purchasing and marketing teams. Additionally, a digital platform was launched for pre-booking appointments, simplifying delivery procedures, and providing various incentives for farmers.
Regarding exports, Professor Khaled Al Khader, Head of the Local Production and Exports Support and Development Authority at the Ministry of Economy, noted that Syrian agricultural and food exports recorded gradual growth in 2026. This growth was facilitated by the opening of new export outlets and the enhancement of land and sea freight services.
Al Khader explained that the main exported products included citrus fruits, seasonal fruits, olives, and olive oil, with controls ensuring local market sufficiency first. He pointed out Syria's potential to achieve an exportable surplus in several products, including olive oil and its derivatives, fruits, medicinal and aromatic plants, and processed food industries.
He stressed that increased local production has stabilized prices for many agricultural products and decreased seasonal prices for fresh produce. The Ministry of Economy, in coordination with relevant authorities, aims to balance the interests of producers and consumers through various measures such as applying export and import calendars and imposing protective tariffs on imports with domestic alternatives.
Al Khader emphasized the government's strategy to transform the agricultural sector from primary production to industrial production with high added value, encouraging investment in agricultural manufacturing, and developing infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses. The plan also supports local producers in obtaining quality certificates to facilitate the entry of Syrian products into foreign markets and enhance the agricultural and food sector's capacity for increased production and exports.