A day of wrath by apple growers and calls for equal treatment with other farmers

Apple growers in Lebanon responded to the call last Saturday by the Lebanese Farmers Association and participated in the big "day of wrath" in several regions, namely, Fnaydik, Jebbet Bshareh, Tannurine, Kfarzebian, Beskanta, Barook and Jezzine famed for this agriculture. The move came as a warning to the procrastination by government in granting compensations to farmers and in salvaging the sector which secures the livelihoods of some 300,000 citizens. For his part, the minister of economy Alain Hakim emphasised the need for government to support apple growers similarly to wheat, barley and tobacco farmers. During the demonstration in Tarsheesh, the president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, demanded the subsidization of the refrigeration services by 100%, compensations for apple grower in the tune of LBP 8000 for every box of apples, the facilitation of export or the full coverage of shipping costs, and finally the establishment of an agriculture credit bank. In Rashayya, farmers staged several sit-ins in various towns of West Beqaa and Rashayya warning to cut off all apple orchards and sell it as firewood if the authorities fail to find external markets for their products. In the Shuf area, farmers demonstrated at the agricultural cooperative association on Freidis-Barooq road blocking it with their apple production. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Forces Syndicate department warned the government in a statement on Saturday calling it to commit to the pledges through a fair coordination between the farmer and the apple dealer. likewise, the National Patriotic Movement Judges Committee launched a campaing to sell apples in Kfarzaaka in Koora caza, to encourage the Lebanese farmers. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, September 30, October 2, 2016)