Interim Government Budgets $226,000 USD to Buy Wheat Seeds

The Syrian Interim Government signed a memorandum of understanding to budget the purchase of wheat seeds worth of $226,000 USD. The move aims to revive the cultivation of wheat in Azaz and Al Atareb in rural Aleppo and in Ma’arrat Misrin in rural Idlib, with the hope of meeting the needs of the Syrian people and achieving food security through the development and sustainability of local resources. It will also ease the burden on the relief organizations, end the monopoly of wheat, help preserve wheat varieties and will create employment opportunities for many of the unemployed in the field of agriculture. It is worth noting that the Interim Ministry of Finance and Economy has assumed responsibility for management of the grain silos in the liberated areas in Dara’a province. Hassan Al-Mohammad, head of the General Administration for Grain said this move would “partially enhance food security in the liberated areas. The administration’s staff based in Syria have sufficient expertise in solving problems facing the grain sector. At a meeting included representatives of all the revolutionary forces in Dara’a province, participants stressed the need to protect the grain silos and also to make more efforts to provide the people with bread at the lowest cost. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Syrian Interim Government)