The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the discussions held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, between Finance Minister Mohammed Yasser Barnieh and Agriculture Minister Basel Sweidan regarding a new package of measures to support the agricultural sector and alleviate the financial burdens on farmers.
The package includes a three-month extension for the repayment of overdue agricultural loans, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 70 of 2026. It also includes discussions on the possibility of establishing an agricultural development fund, developing the agricultural insurance system, and allocating funds for farmer training within the “Syria Without Camps” initiative.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates these discussions, which embody the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector as a fundamental pillar of food security and economic development.
The Movement sees several key implications in these measures:
First, the Syrian Future Movement notes that extending the deadline for repaying overdue loans represents a practical response to the realities faced by farmers who have suffered the consequences of years of war and drought. It also reflects flexibility in financial policies that take into account the exceptional circumstances the agricultural sector is experiencing.
Second: The Syrian Future Movement indicates that the move towards establishing an agricultural development fund, along with a review of the performance of existing funds, demonstrates a desire to restructure support mechanisms and make them more efficient and effective, rather than simply continuing with outdated and ineffective models.
Third: The Syrian Future Movement appreciates linking agricultural support to the “Syria Without Camps” initiative and allocating funds for farmer training. This connects two important national issues: supporting farmers and ending displacement by enabling those returning to their lands to resume farming.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that implementing these measures, despite their importance, faces challenges and opens up opportunities that require follow-up:
- The speed of implementation and the timeline are crucial, as extending the repayment period by three months is a temporary measure and requires future plans to ensure the sustainability of support and prevent these measures from becoming temporary solutions repeated annually.
- The effectiveness of existing agricultural funds requires a comprehensive and transparent review of the work of national funds to ensure that these funds do not become financial burdens without achieving a tangible impact on production.
- Linking training to actual needs: Training programs within the “Syria Without Camps” initiative should focus on practical skills and modern technologies, not just theoretical seminars, to be truly effective.
- An opportunity to restructure the agricultural sector, and the intention to develop agricultural insurance and strengthen the governance of agricultural companies, opens the door to a comprehensive modernization of the sector and makes it more attractive to investment.
Based on its national responsibility to monitor the state-building process, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Accelerating the activation of the Agricultural Development Fund and establishing clear criteria for its operation, while ensuring transparency in the distribution of support. The fund should be a tool for financing productive projects, not merely a temporary relief fund.
- Linking the extension of loans to clear development plans that include the introduction of modern irrigation technologies, solar energy, and agricultural machinery, thus transforming the agricultural sector from one that drains subsidies into a productive and profitable sector.
- Strengthening coordination between the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture and relevant authorities to monitor the implementation of procedures, measure their impact, and develop mechanisms for periodic evaluation and review.
- Launching awareness and agricultural guidance campaigns to familiarize farmers with the new procedures and how to benefit from them, while drawing on international experiences in agricultural insurance and training.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates these governmental efforts to support farmers and the agricultural sector, viewing them as a step in the right direction towards agricultural development and achieving food security.
It reiterates that supporting farmers is an investment in Syria’s future, a safeguard for national security, and a contribution to the stability of local communities.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the success of these measures depends on serious implementation, transparent follow-up, and the integration of financial and agricultural policies.
The Syrian Future Movement will remain a supporter of all that enhances agricultural production and food security, a critic of all that hinders rural development, and a monitor of all that is accomplished on the ground, striving for a new Syria where the farmer is a fundamental partner in building the future.
