Opinions among farmers in Daraa governorate regarding the price of wheat seed for the current agricultural season varied, with some viewing it as aligned with costs, while others considered it an additional burden amid rising input prices, emphasizing the importance of providing necessary support to encourage farming.
In the same context, Fouad Al-Hariri, head of the Daraa Farmers Union, clarified that the price is suitable for the producing entity but may not be for farmers whose support was halted about two years ago, noting that the price in dollars dropped from 500 to 430 dollars per ton compared to last year.
For his part, Ghassan Al-Masri, head of the Farmers Association in Ataman town, pointed out that prices constitute a burden due to reduced capabilities and rising plowing and transport wages, calling for the provision of benevolent loans, while Manhal Al-Bardan, head of the association in Tafs, believed prices are slightly high and require genuine support for fertilizers and fuels.
Farmer Fahd Al-Bukheib indicated that the distributed seeds are of excellent quality, while Fared Al-Natour considered the price high and called for its reduction, urging the activation of agricultural extension units and providing their supplies free of charge to improve services for farmers.
Farmer Ammar Kiwan explained that the cost of cultivating one dunum reaches about 6,000 Syrian pounds, exposing farmers to loss due to the low price of wheat upon delivery, and called for reducing the prices of fertilizers, pesticides, and fuels to ensure an encouraging economic return.
The Minister of Agriculture, Basil Al-Sweidan, had previously issued a decision setting the selling price of wheat seed at 66,000 Syrian pounds per ton, with the Agricultural Production Support Fund covering the difference between the cost price and the selling price, aiming to achieve food security and economic efficiency.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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