President of farmers' association slashes the Chamber of Commerce and demand a solution for the crisis of bananas exports to Syria

The president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, described as ‘shameless’ the campaign launched last week by the Chamber of Commerce (c.f http://bit.ly/2fBGXNF), maintaining that a lot of problems in agriculture have been instigated by said chamber, its president and affiliated authorities. Howayek condemned the participation of the agriculture minister in the campaign instead of addressing the problem of the export of Lebanese banana to Syria and to deal with the repercussions of his past decision to halt the import of agricultural products from the neighboring country. Howayek revealed that in the past the Chambers and economic blocs have prevented all efforts to set up independent agricultural chambers as well as of a separate agricultural registry, hence depriving farmers from the benefits of health insurance, special electricity tariffs, other benefits and rights Such authorities, he added, also delayed the establishment of the National Bank for Agricultural Development, thus denying farmers access to soft loans to develop their farms, and encouraging the monopoly of big brokers and usurers. Howayek went on to say, that such attitude also prevented farmers from benefiting from a grace period required by the Arab Facilitation Agreement, resulting in the removal of customs taxes on subsidized Arab agricultural imports and prompting a fierce competition to made-in-Lebanon goods. This consequently led to the regression of agricultural seasons and an estimated USD 100 million in annual losses. Howayek further  criticized the coalition of chambers “which while contributing to annihilating the future of farmers and their livelihoods is now pretending to be their ally and advocate.” (Al Diyar, An Nahar, November 4, 2016)