Key Highlights:

1. Fuel is generally available in the free market, but the price remains restrictive. This is affecting access for most vulnerable smallholder farmers. Subsidized fuel for agriculture operations remains insufficient. FAO continues to monitor the fuel situation, especially since demand is likely going to increase as the winter cropping season progresses. 

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) announced that about 278 thousand hectares of wheat and 366 thousand hectares of barley have been planted in governmental control areas until December, as well as 12 thousand hectares of legumes which have been planted for this season, also MAAR confirmed that the previously announced price of 4 200 SYP per kg for purchasing wheat grain is an initial price and that the final price will be defined prior to harvesting, taking into consideration production conditions.

3. The Government of Syria announced law number 40 which allows the establishment of joint stock companies for investment in the agricultural sector. MAAR also issued a notice regarding the opportunity of benefiting from the subsidized interest rate official program which covers investments in various agricultural value chains.