Complementary Project for Enhancing Food Security in Dar’a and Quneitra Governorates

The South of Syria has seen a significant population growth since July 2017 when de-escalation of the conflict and ceasefire came to an effect. Consequently, demand for subsistence foodstuff, especially bread, has increased significantly, putting heavy pressure on a food security system that was already weakened by years of fighting since the start of the conflict in 2011. The governorates of Dar’a and Quneitra currently suffers from insufficient availability of wheat (both soft and hard) to meet the increasing demand, insufficient wheat milling facilities and insufficient numbers of bakeries. It is estimated that only 60% of bakeries that had existed before the start of the conflict are currently working.  Likewise, the farming community lacks the means to ensure consistent supply of locally grown hard wheat to warehouses of the Syrian Public Establishment for Grains (SPEG), which is responsible for safeguarding the food security system in the two governorates. Shortages in the local wheat market have weakened SPEG’s ability to provide sufficient quantities of soft and hard wheat for milling into flour that is subsequently used by bakeries to prepare the flour mixture needed to produce the traditional Syrian bread.

The “Complementary Project for Enhancing Food Security in Dar’a and Quneitra Governorates,” which will be implemented by SPEG, aims to satisfy the increasing demand for bread needed to feed the growing population of the two governorates. It is expected to do so by addressing the aforementioned system weaknesses. This will be achieved through the following deliverables and activities:

• Procurement, installation and operationalization of fixed assets, including one flourmill with a 45-50 ton/day production capacity along with related equipment, spare parts and electricity generator. The deliverable fixed assets also include two bakery lines with a production capacity of 6000-9000 loafs/hour each together with accessories, spare parts, electricity generators and tools. Deliveries will also include laboratory equipment, motorcycles, portable belt conveyors, IT devices and office furniture, equipment and stationary.

• Procurement and delivery of consumable goods, including 20,000 MT of soft wheat, 500,000 flour sacks, 20 tons of salt, 15 tons of yeast, 1.2 million hessian sacks, fire extinguishers, safety clothes, tools and equipment and 6000 liters of various types of pesticides and rodenticides. Hessian sacks will be provided to farmers who will use them to collect, store, and transport wheat to SPEG centers.

• Associated civil works focusing on construction of a shed and structure to accommodate the flourmill, rehabilitating and equipping existing bakeries as well as providing consulting and non-consulting services to facilitate implementation of the project.

At a total cost of approximately EUR 14.8 million, the project is expected to enhance food security of people living in the target areas through stable supply and availability of wheat flour, Improve supply and availability of bread at lower and affordable prices for the local communities of catchment areas. While the number of direct beneficiaries is estimated at more than 323,000 people per month over a period of 12 months, the entire population of the target areas estimated at 600,000 will indirectly benefit in terms of having access to the increasing availability of bread and other wheat-based products at more stable prices. 

The project is also expected to help create hundreds of jobs thanks to the installation of the new flourmill, greater utilization of an existing mill, rehabilitation of existing bakeries, installation of two new bakery lines transportation of products, etc. In addition, the availability of flour at affordable prices also helps create an appropriate economic environment for the development of numerous income generation activities among the local residents, including farmers. This will serve to invigorate and restructure the unstable wheat market in Syria and potentially lead to medium-term recovery and growth.

For further information on the project, please see: