Residents of Raqqa and its surroundings are suffering from a severe crisis related to wheat prices and production costs. This situation places farmers in a difficult position, making it impossible for them to cover their basic costs or make a profit that would enable them to continue wheat cultivation.
The Agriculture and Irrigation Authority of the Autonomous Administration, affiliated with the SDF militia, has set the purchase price of a kilogram of wheat at 0.31 US cents, which is approximately 4500 Syrian pounds. Farmers consider this price to be unfair and unjust, as it does not cover the high production costs they bear. Farmers assert that this price is far from the economic reality and cannot meet their needs or sustain their agricultural activities.
The cost of cultivating one dunum of land has reached 110 US dollars, while each 3.5 dunums produce one ton of wheat, making the cost of 3.5 dunums amount to 385 dollars. This means that farmers spend large amounts on wheat cultivation compared to the price they receive when selling it, leading to significant losses and threatening the continuation of their farming operations.
In response to the setting of the wheat price at 0.31 US cents per kilogram, several areas in the city of Raqqa have witnessed widespread protests by farmers. Farmers expressed their discontent and anger at this price, which does not even cover production costs.
Similarly, the city of Amuda has witnessed protests, and Raqqa farmers have called for a similar protest tomorrow after noon prayers at Naim Square in the city center, expressing their rejection of this price and demanding fair prices that enable them to continue cultivating wheat without incurring financial losses.
In a step that further exacerbated the suffering of residents, the “Economy Authority” of the Autonomous Administration raised the price of a loaf of bread from 1000 Syrian pounds to 1500 Syrian pounds, while simultaneously reducing the weight of the loaf from 1200 grams to 1100 grams. This decision angered the residents, as they see this price increase and weight reduction as unjustified, adding to the economic burdens on families already struggling with daily life pressures.
Additionally, Raqqa areas suffer from the lack of control over the essential bread by the institutions of the Autonomous Administration affiliated with the SDF. This lack of oversight allows bakery owners to exploit the situation and increase their profits at the expense of the quality and quantity of bread, further increasing the suffering of residents who have to stand in long lines to obtain low-quality bread.
The current situation reflects a real suffering for the farmers and residents of Raqqa and its surroundings. These issues require immediate intervention from the responsible authorities to ensure fair wheat prices that cover production costs and enable farmers to continue cultivating wheat without incurring losses. Providing fair prices for wheat and bread is the optimal solution to support farmers and ensure the sustainability of agriculture in the region, thereby achieving food security for the population.
