News updates

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a regional project for technical assistance for the introduction of quinoa and the institutionalization of its production in a number of countries in the MENA region, namely: Lebanon, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Mauritania, Sudan and Yemen. Hence, the first farmers’ field days were held in Lebanon, last Wednesday, in Tal Amara and Kfardan, in coordination with the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI), together with the Ministry of Agriculture. Other workshops, training sessions and field days will be organized for farmers and agronomists during the project’s implementation period.  The organization said in a statement, issued at the beginning of the implementation of the project, that it included Lebanon with other countries in the project at the request of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture. FAO explained that the project will assist Lebanon in assessing potentials for adopting quinoa, fostering and strengthening the transfer of knowledge and competencies so as to build and develop local capacities, and in developing a basis for a national sustainable strategy for the integration of quinoa in the farming systems.
 Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, The Daily Star 12 September 2014

Al Nahar newspaper published a report about this year’s olives season in Akkar where olive orchard owners and farmers expressed their fears about the negative implication of drought, low rainfall and climate change on their production.  The annual olives harvest is a major source of livelihood for local growers and farmers as well as for the 200 olive presses in the region which produces annually 40,000 tons of the total 70,000 tones produced in North Lebanon.
Farmer Khalil Abdallah expressed concern vis-à-vis the dumping of foreign olives and olive oil products into the local markets.  Imports in large quantities from Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Spain are likely to undermine internal marketing of domestic products.  One of the largest olive farmers in the region of Akkar, Michel Nasr, noted that delayed rainfalls are likely to affect this year production and cause a disaster to farmers leading to a reduction in olive oil production and increase in sales price.  To be noted that last year’s yields were also below expectation.

Source: Al-Nahar 11 September 2014

Fekr wa Hayat Association in Minyyeh organized a graduation ceremony for the participants in its Women Empowerment III project which was implemented with funding from the US Embassy small grants programme.  The event was held yesterday at the UNESCO palace with the participation of the Minister for the Displaced, Alice Shabtini. MP Kazem el Kheir of the Future movement said in his speech that this project is a special experiment in challenging illiteracy, chauvinism and women’s marginalization.  He noted that the project seeks to empower women through language training, computer literacy and using social media.  He also added that this project assists in raising social awareness, improving cultural levels, and increasing professional and national productivity especially through clarifying the diverse roles of women in politics, society, media, economy and professions.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 11 September 2014

Celebrations for the World Peace Day kicked off in Lebanon in a press conference organized last week under the auspices of former first lady, Mona Hrawi.  During this event, Ms. May Khalil was chosen to be the Peace Woman for Lebanon for the year 2014.  To be noted that September 21st has been designated as the World Peace Day some 33 years ago by the United Nations.  Three years ago, the CEO of Bee Events & PR Company, Nabil Tabet, in collaboration with Casino du Liban also formally kicked off celebrations for the Lebanon Peace Day.
In his opening address during the press conference, Tabet noted that the main aim of these celebrations is to reiterate Lebanon’s commitment to world peace as well as enhance and promote Lebanon’s heritage on an international level through the creation of a programme that would promote heritage in various parts of Lebanon notable Byblos, Batrun, Beit Eddine and the Cedars.  The programme consists of contributions from 5 photographers and 5 fashion designers.  Tabet noted that the photo exhibition will go on until September 21st and will take place at Saint Joseph University and the Zeytounah Bay. Photographs will then be published in a booklet which will be disseminated across the world via Lebanese consular services as well as Lebanese travel agencies.  The programme also includes a fashion exhibition to be held on 19th and 20th of September.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 10 September 2014

Within the framework of the extra-curricular activities of the students and teachers of the “English for Women” programme which Hayya Bena is implementing in around 20 localities in Lebanon, Hayya Benna and Association pour le Developpement Rural organized a get together in Shebaa which grouped all the students from Tura, Majdel Selem, Maarakeh, and Ayn el Remmaneh. The event started with a tour in Shebaa which included stopover visits to a number of tourist and religious sites.  Participants then returned to the municipality where each women group gave a presentation of their area.  Hayya Bena’s president, Lokman Slim, then spoke about the activity which seeks at revealing what women gained and their achievements during the past few months while emphasizing the openness and tolerance character of the project in addition to its educational objectives.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 10 September 2014

The Mresti kicked off yesterday under the auspices of MP Walid Jumblatt represented by Mresti Sherif Fayyad.  The event which was held at the municipality stadium in Mresti, includes an exhibition of agricultural products, Mooneh products and handicrafts in addition to artistic soirées, and hiking activities in collaboration with the Shuf Cedars Reserve. In his opening speech, the Municipal head, Nasser Zeidan, called on the youth to preserve their heritage and environment and to re-ignite interest in agriculture.  He expressed his appreciation of the aid contributions of the GreenPlan affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and which include assistance to farmers in rehabilitating and using their lands, opening and expanding agricultural roads and creating water ponds.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 10 September 2014

The Arab Business Women board held its general assembly meeting in Cairo last month in order to elect a new board as well as honorary members and consultants for 2014 – 2018 in addition to endorsing the financial and administrative plan of the previous board.  Some 50 business women, investors, economists, experts and consultants in economy and investment, representing 19 Arab countries, took part in this event.  Carmen Zughayb, Lebanese, was elected as member of the new Board while May Daher Yaakoob, also Lebanese, was selected as the Board media consultant.

Source: Al-Nahar 10 September 2014

Four months after the wheat harvest and storage in the wheat storages, the government has yet to take decisions concerning the modalities of receiving, and paying for this year’s harvest despite various lobbying actions of wheat farmers and which included holding meetings with PM Salam as well as with the Minister of Economy and Trade, Alain Hakim.
Some wheat farmers told As Safir newspaper that they were more pessimistic after their meetings with officials who were indifferent.  They noted that this year’s production is now threatened with damage given the prolonged storage period and the deterioration of the packaging bags.  Wheat farmers have designed a new road map for their upcoming actions which will include the closure of the Shtoura international road in addition to the organisation of a number of sit-ins in front of the Serail in Beirut and in front of the Ministry of Economy and Trade.  Farmers also noted that they had repeatedly called on the government and on the Ministry of Economy to resolve the problem and to place their demands on the Cabinet agenda but to no avail.

Source: Al-Safir 9 September 2014

For further information on the wheat harvest of 2014, please review early news posted on the WEEPortal:
“Wheat farmers in the Beqaa threaten government with escalation to clarify modalities for collecting their new harvest”, on 20/8/2014;
“Wheat production in Beqaa drops by 25% and the Ministry of the Economy is absent”, on 11/7/2014;
"Akkar farmers demand a raise of wheat prices to guarantee sustainability", on 27/6/2014.

The Development Forum of the Aley highlands concluded its summer festivals which were held in the village of Majdelbe3na in collaboration with the federation of the Aley municipalities as well as with a number of associations and clubs.  The festivals included cultural, sports and traditional activities. The president of the fraternity association, Hussein Abdel Khaleq, noted in his speech during the closing event that the idea for these festivals is to strengthen collaboration and joint work amongst villages, municipalities and NGOs in order to contribute to social development and to the economy.  For his part, the head of the Forum, Fuad Jabbur, underscored that Lebanon is successfully confronting fears and difficulties with these festivals which are being held despite the worsening security situation.  
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 9 September 2014

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published a report about this year’s pear season in Zghorta which, unlike previous season, had a poor yield which is unfit for marketing and for jam making.  The report noted that the reason for this poor season vary and relate to the quality of fertilizers that farmers bought from traders as well as the damage caused by climate change.  The report shared examples of the predicaments of pear farmers.  According to Mariette Makhul, housewife, the pear in her region were quite poor this year and the skin was spotted which means that it is no good for jam making or even for fresh household consumption.  Lamia Rafful, who owns a shop selling jams, said that the production cost of pear jam is quite high because of the increased cost of pears which reached 4000 per kilo.  According to farmer Youssef Milad Issa, owner of a pears orchard, the problem resides in the power of monopoly exercised by middlemen who stock on production and do not market it as it should be in addition to the high cost of chemicals this year.  Issa called on the Ministry of Agriculture to interfere and regulate the cost of drugs as well as to take care of farmers who depend on their agricultural production for their livelihoods in order that they remain on their land.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 8 September 2014