Syria Launches “Al-Qard Al-Hassan” Initiative to Support Wheat Cultivation and Strengthen Grain Reserves
Syrian Minister of Agriculture Amjad Badr announced that the “Al-Qard Al-Hassan” project was introduced to support the country’s wheat crop and ensure stable production for the upcoming season. The initiative provides farmers with an interest-free in-kind loan covering the seeds and fertilizers required for planting.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the minister explained that farmers can submit their applications through agricultural directorates in the various provinces. The program, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, will remain open for registration from November 17 to 27 as part of broader efforts to boost the agricultural sector and reinforce national food security.
Badr stressed that the initiative represents direct state support aimed at safeguarding wheat production. He noted that the ministry is committed to ensuring that the assistance is used for its intended purpose. Field committees will be formed in cooperation with local communities to inspect farmlands, monitor planting operations, provide technical guidance, and follow up until the harvest season.
The minister called on all farmers to cooperate with the technical committees in order to ensure the project’s success and achieve optimal results.
According to the Syrian General Grain Establishment, Syria requires more than 2.5 million tons of wheat annually to meet domestic needs.
New Wheat Shipments Arrive at Syrian Ports
In a related development, five ships carrying more than 134,000 tons of wheat arrived at the ports of Latakia and Tartous as part of an ongoing plan to strengthen Syria’s food reserves and secure the supply of flour to mills across the country.
Hassan Othman, Director-General of the Syrian Grain Establishment, stated that the shipments arrived from Ukraine and Russia. He added that the supplies are part of a continuous program to provide the wheat needed for bread production, noting that the institution follows up on the implementation of all wheat import contracts to ensure uninterrupted delivery.
Othman emphasized that unloading, transporting, and storing operations follow strict procedures and coordination with relevant authorities to maintain wheat quality and ensure a steady daily supply to mills.
He also confirmed that additional shipments are scheduled to arrive in the coming period to reinforce strategic reserves and support national food security, under the direct supervision of the Ministries of Economy and Industry.
Earlier this month, on November 9, the port of Tartous received three ships carrying more than 70,000 tons of wheat under a series of contracts signed by the Syrian Grain Establishment with private companies to secure the country’s wheat requirements.
