Banana, citrus, olive, potato and grapes all in recession after wheat, apple and 3arsal fruits

In the wake of protests by apple and wheat growers and 3arsal farmers, which resulted in the cabinet offering financial compensation, farmers across the Lebanese have started demanding equal treatment, and solutions to the marketing crisis, an end to foreign competition, and the re-opening of the borders with Syria. To be noted that the marketing crisis which is endemic, is compounded by government incapability to halt illegal trade. Thus, citrus and banana farmers of South Lebanon staged a sit in at Abul al Aswad district, Saida, in protest against the export activity and to demand to be treated like apple farmers, while appealing to Lebanese officials and Syrian authorities to allow the entry of Lebanese bananas to the neighboring country> for his part, MP Kazem Kheir, also drew the attention to the aggravated situation of citrus farmers in Minyeh and Akkar for the same reasons mentioned above. Olive growers in Akkar also blocked the Halba-Arqa road this week in protest of the invasion of what he termed as imported but poor quality olive oil, asking the Higher Relief Council (HRC) to compensate for their losses similar to the apple and fruit growers in other areas. Protests also reached olive farmers located in the southern border villages, Kura and North Lebanon areas. Meanwhile, the General Trade Union of Cooperative Association in Lebanon asked the government to commission HRC for purchasing 500 thousand crates of olive oil directly from farmers at favorable prices in compensation for part of their losses. Similarly, potato growers of Akkar staged a demonstration at the premises of the Cooperative Association for Potato Growers in Halba, for the same reasons. Furthermore, grapes growers in Rashayya and Marj Kfarmeshkif in West Beqaa criticized the high cost associated with maritime export and their inability to provide the large quantity needed for viable shipping. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, As Safir, October 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 2016)