Deir Ezzor – Obadah al-Sheikh
Cotton farmers in Deir Ezzor province, eastern Syria, have expressed their frustrations due to the delay in receiving their financial dues for the cotton crop they delivered to the previous Syrian regime, more than four months after its downfall.
According to farmers interviewed by Enab Baladi, the status of their cotton payments remains uncertain, exacerbating the living and economic conditions for the farmers.
Farmer Mohsen al-Azzo stated to Enab Baladi that the delay in receiving payment for their cotton has disrupted farmers’ operations and accumulated debts against them, as most farmers are waiting for the funds to settle their accounts with suppliers.
He added that the delay hinders farmers’ ability to purchase seeds and fertilizers necessary for the upcoming season.
Another farmer, Mohammed al-Saaran from eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, expressed that cotton farmers are eagerly awaiting payment for their crop, calling on the Farmers’ Union to address the issue.
In the 2024 season, the previous Syrian regime maintained the price for purchasing raw cotton crop from farmers at the same rate as the previous year, despite rising production costs, setting the price at 10,000 Syrian pounds per kilogram.
According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister on October 13, 2024, the price includes the delivery of the crop to the gins and delivery centers of the General Corporation for Cotton Ginning and Marketing.
Work is ongoing to settle the payments
The head of the Farmers’ Union in Deir Ezzor, Hamad al-Khadir, attributed the delay in settling the payments to a lack of sufficient cash flow, as the new government attempts to address the problems.
He stated to Enab Baladi that the amount owed for the cotton is “large” and the financial situation still prevents it from being paid, adding that this delay has adversely affected farmers and their ability to secure production supplies, since farming is seasonal and relies heavily on the income from crops delivered to the state, especially cotton and wheat.
Al-Khadir pointed out that there are several channels, including the Farmers’ Union in Deir Ezzor and the General Union in Damascus, working with the ministries of agriculture, finance, and economy to mitigate the difficulties in securing the prices for cotton, and they are currently working on securing prices for agricultural products and assisting farmers with seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation support for agricultural projects.
The agricultural sector in Deir Ezzor province faces a noticeable decline in cultivated areas due to the obstacles that farmers encounter, most notably the high cost of fuel, lack of support, and rising prices of seeds and fertilizers.
Agriculture is one of the primary professions for most residents of rural Deir Ezzor and is their main source of income, with farmers hopeful for a revival in the agricultural sector through the provision of support at reasonable prices and the reclamation of lands that have become unsuitable for cultivation due to water infiltration and the formation of puddles (the appearance of water pools on the soil surface).
Cotton is considered a strategic crop in Syria, second only to wheat. Before 2011, Syria ranked second globally in cotton production after India, with annual production exceeding one million tons. Additionally, it ranked second in the world in yield per hectare of cotton, contributing 8.3% of global production. Local consumption accounted for 30% of production, with the remainder exported.
The cultivation of “white gold” has seen a clear decline over the years. Prior to the regime’s downfall, there were plans for the 2024 cotton season to cultivate 14,000 hectares in the areas under its control, of which 8,722 hectares were planted—an increase of 1,500 hectares over 2023—while the execution rate of the plan was only 62%.
Deir Ezzor: Farmers await payment for cotton delivered to previous regime Enab Baladi.
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