News updates

The Vice President of the General Trade Union, head of the Union of Tobacco Growers in Lebanon, Hassan Fakih, announced that the Regie (La Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs & Tombacs) has started yesterday collecting the tobacco produce for the years 2014 and 2015 in 10 supply centers in the South. These include the regions of Nabatieh- Regie building in Kfarroman, Sidikkin, Sawaneh- Tibnin, Srifa, Rmeish, Aitroun, Mais el Jabal, Aita al Shaab and Zahira. As for the areas of Akkar and the North, Fakih said the Regie will begin buying the crop harvest next Thursday and at a later stage from the Bekaa farmers. Fakih demanded raising the average cost of one kilogram of tobacco to 15 thousand Lebanese Pounds and helping tobacco growers, along with fisherfolks, benefit from the National Social Security Funds. In this respect, the Regie director Nassif Siklawi briefed the Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil who hailed the accomplishments made by the company so far. (Al Mustaqbal, As Safir October 28, 2015)

 

Under the patronage of the Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb, and in cooperation with Maasir al Shouf Agricultural Cooperative and the town’s municipality, the Agricultural Center in Deir al Kamar and the Shouf Biosphere Reserve held a seminar on ‘methods of organic fertilization of fruit bearing trees’. Speakers stressed the importance of the cultivation which uses the organic fertilization approach to maintain the soil’s moisture and reduce the excessive use of water. Engineer Aboud Freiha, representing Chehayeb, urged farmers to provide the necessary tools and equipment that help make agriculture in Lebanon an environment friendly sector. (Al Mustaqbal, October 27, 2015)

 

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in coordination with the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture opened yesterday a two-day  training workshop in Beirut under the patronage of Minister Akram Chehayeb. The event comes as part of the ‘Technical Assistance for Strengthening of the Food Systems of Quinoa in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Mauritania, Sudan and Yemen’ regional program launched by FAO last year in collaboration with the Agricultural Scientific Research Department in Lebanon. The workshop aims at encouraging the exchange of information and successes related to the production of quinoa, as well as discussing and developing plans to expand the scope of its cultivation and use in the beneficiary countries, particularly in Lebanon and Egypt which, according to an FAO statement, have imported 10 tons and 15 tons of quinoa respectively during 2014 to meet the increasing domestic demand. (Al Diyar, October 28, 2015)

 

As Safir daily featured in its issue of today the plunging production of apple trees by 50-75 % during the past five years in the Hasbani River area. Farmers said the reasons for that drop varied, notably the use of adulterated and rotted pesticides sold at the local markets and which are used to control the various diseases and mites in apple orchards. This, in addition to the extreme cold and desert weather conditions and the latest wave of dust storms that hit the country. 

To shed more light on the crisis, the newspaper spoke with a number of apple growers in the region. Abu George, one farmer from the town of Kawkaba, described the season as very poor and complained that for the fifth consecutive year the harvest has been shrinking. “The yield hardly covers the costs of plowing, trimming, irrigation and pesticides,” he said. Meanwhile, agricultural cooperatives on the other hand, said the average produce of apples in the Hasbani River Basin is normally 22000 boxes, however, the present season barely yielded a quarter of that amount. Likewise, the President of the Agricultural Cooperative Association for Arid Farming and Seedlings, Nuhad Abu Hamdan, urged the government to take part of the responsibility in providing the proper extension and follow up assistance, especially to the long forsaken remote rural areas. (As Safir, October 28, 2015)

 

Mid-October marks the opening of the pomegranate picking season in the areas of Arkoub and Hasbaya, especially the sour kind used to make pomegranate molasses which is added to spice up savory Lebanese dishes, like Fatoush and salads. Abu Jihad Dalleh, a farmer from Shabaa, boasted to Al Mustaqbal newspaper that the preparation of the molasses, famed for its nutritive value, especially as a heart friendly fruit in addition to its pleasant taste, requires a lot of patience and skill. (Al Mustaqbal, October 28, 2015) 

 

The Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi disclosed in a lecture at the Lebanese American University (LAU) yesterday that some 1.8 million out of a total 4 million population work, 64% of which are males and 36% females. In his talk, ‘Labor Market Challenges in Lebanon’, Azzi pointed out that the Lebanese Government which has forsaken the productive economy for many years now constitutes the biggest obstacle for the domestic labor force. “All the undertakings that have been implemented in the nineties of the last Century did not create employment prospects, rather money, corruption, brokerage businesses and urban constructions for non-Lebanese nationals,” he said. On the other hand, the minister criticized the arrogance of the Lebanese people who do not settle for less than higher class professions, turning down the ordinary jobs that are mostly needed by the community.

Talking figures, Azzi noted that of the total Lebanese workforce, the finance and insurance sectors make nearly 39%; industry, 12%; trade, 27%; construction sector, 9%; communications, 7% and, finally, agriculture accommodates for the least percentage, 6%, of the human resources. This means, Azzi said, the productive sectors provide for the least workforce.  “The young generation are mainly inclined to follow up higher university studies with  disregard to vocational education,” the minister said, warning this “can pose a big threat to the nation”. The unforgivable  crime committed by the government since the nineties, Azzi went on to say, is legitimizing unaccredited higher education institutions that generate unwanted graduates”. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, October 27, 2015)

 

The Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh stressed that activity in the field of social responsibility is not only beneficial to society but also improves the added value of corporations. Salameh was speaking during the opening of the 5th Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Forum organized at the Phoenicia Hotel by CSR Lebanon under the headline, ‘How Sustainability Enhances Brand Value and Reputation’ which was attended by over 700 participants from various business, banking, social, civil society and university sectors in Lebanon and the Arab World. Salameh confirmed the Central Bank’s commitment to the concept in the past few years and its launching of a number of initiatives, mainly in the domains of education, housing and environment, pointing to the Central Bank’s direct contribution to the establishment of an advanced university in the capital Beirut, besides the issuance of circulars that allocate soft college loans, which to date amounted to nearly 50 thousand. 

For his part, CSR Lebanon’s President, Khaled Kassar, indicated that the assessment of shares of companies in global markets is no longer solely based on its assets and financial outcomes, but also on the reports and outcomes of its regular annual social and environmental data. Likewise, Saad Azhar, Chair of BLOM Bank, said the banking sector’s support to humanitarian, cultural and educational undertakings in the framework of its social responsibility’s core work, enhances the value of the corporate brand and contributes to improving the reputation and to increasing the sales of companies and their access to markets. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, October 27, 2015)

 

In its feature last Saturday on the citrus cultivation in south Lebanon, As Safir daily said the orchards are being confined to three plains, Adloun, Damour and Mansouri. The main refrigerating storehouses, Safa and Zaatari in Sinik area, which used to export year round and employ a fair percentage of workforce, have closed down because of the high transportation costs that limited their ability to compete. The newspaper pointed out that the notable families in the business who own most of the southern coastal citrus plantations, are from Saida and Damour. However, the majority of them have chosen to sell their land, and those who emigrated and returned to their hometown opted to purchase and invest in real estate. For more insight on the issue, As Safir spoke to one farmer, Rida Nahle, who complained that his 30-dunum farm barely yields now $20 thousand a year, noting that he can sell it for not less than a $3 million. “The Lebanese market cannot accommodate more than 20-30% of the local production, and without exporting, the market is saturated with bananas and citrus fruits,” he grieved. (As Safir, October 24, 2015)

 

Al Mustaqbal newspaper indicated in its issue last Saturday that climate change has badly impacted the various agricultural seasons in Akkar, the North, and the most affected were the olive plantations. Jaber Nasr, one of the area’s big olive farmers, noted a remarkable fall in the produce this year, while the demand on the crop, he said, remained within the acceptable range. He pointed out that the “halt of olive import from neighboring countries and the control of olive oil smuggling from Syria would boost the prices and the sales of this kind of agriculture.” Nasr said he expected the retail price of one kilogram of green olives to stand between L.L 3000 and 3500, and the 20-liter olive oil container to exceed 200 thousand Lebanese pounds this year.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star reflected a more resilient atmosphere coming from the southern plains of Deir Mimas, Kafraya, Kfarkila and Marjeyoun. Um Jalal Kadoura, from Kafraya, told the newspaper that this year’s produce is “good and promising, and so is the rate of demand.” The Daily Star highlighted the supportive role of local and international non-government organizations in the south, particularly for the olive industry, through the provision of financial and extension assistance, including the proper funds to buy olive press machines and the required pesticides. (Al Mustaqbal, Daily Star, October 24, 2015)

 

 The Head of the Lebanese Hotel Owners’ Association, Pierre Ashkar, warned of the drastic losses in tourism this year according to the latest figures coming from the sector. Ashkar was speaking during a press conference last Tuesday attended by a crowd of hospitality institutions with the banner ‘Political chaos and street turmoil made us suffer’. In his opening address to Lebanese politicians, Ashkar said, “We had enough of your reckless attitude towards institutions and the youth… tourism is in danger.” He pointed to the accrued and diversified losses in the industry, primarily the loss of the summer season and the meagre investments, which would have been worse and devastating“had it not been for the innovative, unwavering and ambitious endeavors of the young generation.” On the other hand, and referring to the ongoing anti-corruption protests, Ashkar expressed his regret  about the riots and sabotage actions that were centering in the downtown Beirut area. In the same vein, the Head of the Travel and Tourism Agencies in Lebanon, Jean Abboud, grieved the tourism incoming activity which was almost non-existent this year, noting that the hotel and car rental industries were the most affected, followed by the Centre Ville commercial district.

For his part, and notwithstanding the gloomy situation of tourism in the county, Minister, Michel Farouan was cautiously optimistic, saying he expected “various investment projects to take place that could put an end to the continuing unpleasant political situation.” He pointed to the relatively positive index in the tourism sector, particularly in rural tourism during last August, however, he did not down play the counter effects of the civil society’s goings on especially on the downtown's touristic establishments. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, October 13, 14, 20, 2015)