Challenges resulting from smuggling of Syrian olive oil and absence of marketing prospects for Akkar citrus

The head of the agricultural branch of the General National Federation of Lebanese Cooperatives, and President of the Cooperative Association of the Olive Farmers in Kura, George Constantine Inati, warned of the possible extinction of olive cultivation in Lebanon as a result of fierce unlawful competition from Syria. He pointed out that this year’s olive season in neighboring Syria was excellent, exceeding an estimated one million ton, noting that Syrian olive oil is being sold in Lebanon at half the cost price of the corresponding Lebanese product. In this respect, Inati appealed in a letter to the Syrian agriculture and agricultural reform minister, Ahmad Kaderi, to find a solution to the crisis. He urged him to issue a regulatory order restricting all exports to the Syrian government and its affiliated export companies only. He also recalled that the Lebanese agriculture minister has issued a ban on the imports of olives and olive oil similarly to actions taken by the governments of Syria, Jordan and the Palestinian authorities.

On the other hand, citrus farmers in the northern plains of Akkar while describing this year’s season as ‘excellent’ in quality and the size of production, complained about the narrow possibilities of marketing their products since the closure of borders with Syria. One farmer and exporter, Mohamad Mobayid, expressed his grief regarding the deteriorating financial situation resulting from the decline in export activity and fall in prices in the domestic market where supply is higher than demand, noting as well the high cost of exports through container vessels. (As Safir, January 20, 2016)