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Apple farmers concerned by the absence of markets

30-8-2018

With the nearing apple harvesting season, An Nahar newspaper noted that apple growers in Ehden, Tannurine, Bsharreh, Laqluq and all over Mount Lebanon and parts of the Beqaa, are going through the same anxiety due to the absence of marketing and lack of official support to their produce. This is further compounded by the absence of agricultural bodies which would undertake extension services. Apple grower, Hanna Frangieh, noted that this agriculture provided a good livelihood in the past. Today, according to Frangieh, apple growers are at the mercy of merchants who are only interested in profits and who refuse to buy directly from apple orchards under the guise that transportation costs are high with the closure of land transportation routes. Frangieh also noted that local municipalities are helping to some extent but are unable to bear the costs alone in the absence of official support. With regards to local initiatives, An Nahar highlighted the “Apple Araba Workshop” set up by the “Cedar Mountains Association” as well as by the Bsharreh Municipality and Shapas company in collaboration with USAID, in the village of Bayt Munther in Bsharreh. This initiative aimed at providing a solution to the problem of apple marketing in Bsharreh. Other initiatives include the Apple Festival organized annually by the municipality in Zghorta and where producers sell apples directly to consumers. Within the same vein, the article spoke about apple growers in Donniyeh who took to the streets again this year protesting the negligence of the state and demanding that internal and external markets be found. (An Nahar, August 30 2018)

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Despite significant exports Lebanon food insecurity level remains high

28-8-2018

A study by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Beirut and Mount Lebanon published in Al Mustaqbal today, showed that the Lebanese food and beverage exports represented 18% of the overall Lebanese exports for the year 2017. This places the food and beverage industry as the second largest exporting sector in Lebanon after the jewelry sector. The food sector produces a diverse varieties of goods, including, alcoholic drinks, pastry, sweets, olive oil, pickles, canned foods, spices, fruits and canned and processed vegetables. According to the results of the study which appeared in the Byblos Bank Weekly Monitor, the food and beverage exports recorded USD 500.2 million during 2017, rising by 1.9% from 2016, while the import of similar products recorded USD 1.9 billion, with no remarkable change from the past year. The trade deficit in the above sector shrank slightly to USD 1.36 billion during 2017. According to the study, Syria was the main destination of made-in-Lebanon food products, with exports to neighboring state standing at USD 82.8 million, (representing around 16%) of the total exports of the year 2017, followed by Saudi Arabia USD 61.9 m (12.3%), and then Iraq with USD 39.5 m (7.8%). Meanwhile, France was the main country of import of food and beverage products into Lebanon, amounting to USD 147.5 million (representing 7.9%) of the total imports to the country, followed by Turkey with USD 311 million (7.1%) and then Saudi Arabia with USD 96.9 million (5.2%). While it underlined the competitive advantages Lebanon boasts, the study pointed out to poor infrastructure, weak water management systems, inadequate and high cost energy supplies, which constitute key challenges to the competitiveness of the sector. (Al Mustaqbal, August 28, 2018) 
 

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Commerce and Industry in Lebanon not performing well!
Minister Haj Hassan: Industry and agriculture sectors are not OK!
Divergent domestic views towards protecting national agriculture and industry
Ban of import of cloths, food from Turkey to support domestic industry

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Popular markets in Beqaa cater for the needs of poor Lebanese and Syrians

27-8-2018

Al Mustaqbal published a special feature today an article on the bourgeoning popular markets in the Beqaa region. The escalating social, economic and political crisis has forced the local municipal councils and private entrepreneurs to expand the historic popular markets or create new diversified markets in many towns and villages in the area, the newspaper wrote. The most prominent street bazars are located in the towns of Jib Jnin, Ghaza -Baalbaq and Marj. The latter has been there since the twenties of the past century. Sitting on a stretch of 30 dunums of land, the market kicks off every Monday of every week attracting flocks of shoppers from the Beqaa, the South and Mount Lebanon. Such souks, the newspaper said, allow market goers to buy any product any time at reasonable and affordable prices that are roughly a quarter of their value at commercial centers and shops. Available goodies include, foods, veggies, cereals, sweets and confectioners, beverages, nuts, clothes, furniture, linens, kitchen utensils, antiques, stationaries and meats, in addition to specialty sections selling livestock, poultry and cars. On the subject, the mayor of Ghaza Baalbaq, Mohamad Majzub, told Al Mustaqbal that these marketplaces have become the sole outlet for the majority of the area’s residents and Syrian refugees. The article can be found on the following link: https://goo.gl/f9QJhQ. (Al Mustaqbal, August 27, 2018)

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Summer events in Saida, Baqaata, Aley and Taybeh

27-8-2018

Within the framework of local development activities in the regions, Saida has been the scene of diverse recreational events which kicked off on August 24th, including the three-day food and cultural heritage market. This comes as part of the Sidon International Festival 2018 organized by the Festival’s National Committee and Saida Municipality under the sponsorship of the ministries of tourism and culture, and this year it was under the slogan, ‘Saida celebrates life’. Meanwhile, and in support of the agricultural and craft sector, the municipality of Jdeideh-Baqaata in the Shuf area and the Jdeideh Women’s Association, the Farmer to Consumer of Small Producers and Farmers Market was held in the town on August 25 under the patronage of PSP chief Walid Jumblat. The event is in collaboration with the Shuf Biosphere Reserve, the collective of agricultural cooperatives in the area and the French Islamic Relief Organization. On the other hand, Loubnan Al Ataa Charity Association organized its annual handicraft and artisan fair on August 24 at Prince Faisal Arselan Museum, Aley, under the sponsorship of the vice president of Al Waleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation. On the same day, the minister of industry in the caretaker government, Hussein Haj Hassan, sponsored an honoring ceremony by the Federation of Jabal Amel Municipalities, the Islamic Health Association (Al Hayaa Al Sihiyya al Islamiyah) and owners of food establishments classified under the Food Safety Program in the towns of the Federation. During the ceremony which took place at Taybeh Martyrs Hall, Haj Hassan distributed classification certificates among owners of the food companies. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, August 25, 26, 27, 2018)

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Hotel occupancy improving during Adha Eid

24-8-2018

The secretary general of the Tourism Syndicates Union, Jean Beiruti, revealed to Al Markaziya e-portal on August 22 that the hotel occupancy rate during Adha Eid reached between 90% to 93% in Beirut and 75% outside the capital. He voiced surprise over the continuing war against the tourism sector which started with the alleged marine pollution, as he put it, and which later was directed to the congested and overcrowded traffic at Beirut Airport which forced redirecting some tourists to countries other than Lebanon. Beiruti demanded the authorities to allow the use of alternative runways in the country, given the presence of more than 110 charters, and Qatar’s step to transfer Beirut International Airport as a transit stopover in the face of the continuous GCC boycott of the small Gulf state, in addition to the massive use of the airport by Syrian travelers and the Haj pilgrimage season falling in August this year. Beirut urged giving the tourism minister additional authority to support the industry. For his part, the minister of tourism, Avedis Guidanian, pointed on August 21 to an improvement in tourism activity until the end of July, noting an increase in the hotel occupancy rate in Beirut (67.3% during July) compared to 62.2% during the same period of last year. An Nahar newspaper quoted a former Kuwaiti official as saying that about 30,000 nationals are currently on summer leave in Lebanon. The newspaper also referred to the uninterrupted traffic of Iraqi travelers in the framework of medical tourism, which proves that Arab nationals prefer hospitalization in Lebanon due to its highly accredited and reliable medical sector. On the other hand, An Nahar wrote that the above data insinuates that the country in question is not Lebanon, the country which is overwhelmed by its multiple crises, most importantly the unprecedented level of environmental decadence and deterioration. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, August 21, 24, 2018)

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Closing of eatery, hypermarket in Batroon, meat house in Zahleh for safety reasons

24-8-2018

The health ministry information office announced in a statement over the weekend that it has decided to close three food establishments and remove their products from the local markets. This come as part of the sustainable campaign to ensure food safety standards at all restaurants, factories and slaughterhouses across Lebanon. To this effect, during the first half of 2018, the campaign conducted around 24 thousand tests, sent oral and written warning notices and issued hundreds of suspension and shutdown circulars. According to the statement, The Yard restaurant in the district of Batroon was shut down pending its compliance with all legal and health requirements. The health inspectors, the statement said, have found that the eatery is not licensed and does not observe the least public health conditions, that its staff lack essential health certificates, in addition to the detection of insects and cockroaches sitting on the kitchen’s utensils and equipment and in storage. On the other hand, health observers asked the Appellate Public Prosecutor of the North to seal with red wax Al A’ilah Supermarket in Batroon after discovering a large amount of expired food items, including meat, canned goods and sweets. Also in Zahleh, the ministry of health requested the governor to close Jabbour abattoir and factory in Tourbol-Zahleh which slaughters and processes chicken for meat, and manufactures dog food. The poultry plant, the statement mentioned, was found to have a construction permit but not an investment license. It slaughters some 4 thousand birds per day while only 8 of its 22 workers carry health certificates. Other items and brands were removed from the markets, namely Elle & Vire crème dessert vanilla for containing bacteria, the statement concluded. (Al Diyar, August 23, 2018)

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USD 400 million in proceeds after the legalisation of cannabis 

20-8-2018

Al Diyar newspaper wrote today that the State will not send security forces to destroy the plantations dispersed in the Beqaa, Hermel highlands and the middle areas of Dinneyeh and Minyeh in Akkar. According to an expert on the cultivation of marijuana, the proceeds from the crop after converting it to cannabis oil to be used for medicinal uses and in the pharmaceutical sector are estimated at around USD 400 million at an early stage and at USD one billion later. On the other hand, the newspaper reported a campaign in Tripoli strongly opposing the legalization of hashish under the title, ‘No to Marijuana’, for many reasons, notably the dangers and risks of the timing, especially when the northern capital has been seeing an unprecedented spread of drug abuse among its unemployed youth. Meanwhile, the chair of the Regie, Nassif Siqlawi, sponsored last Thursday the opening of a Regie public hall in the Akkari town of Haisa at an invitation from its municipality. This hall, Siqlawi boasted, is a bridge to the future of town residents as it provides a space for culture, social activities, women empowerment, training and development. It is simply the physical direct translation of the sustainable development strategy kicked off by the Regie and which achieved 170 projects to date in the municipalities of the North, South, Beqaa and Akkar. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, August 17, 20, 2018)


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Cannabis legalization: Concerns in Beqaa over licensing and profit distribution
Regie to manage administration, export of cannabis
Three development projects by Regie in Baalbaq
 

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Funds earmarked for summer festivals may not be spent this year

17-8-2018

In its issue of today, An Nahar spotlighted the many touristic festivities held this summer across the country. Nada Sardouk, the director general of the ministry, outlined three main types of cultural touristic activities, and they are: the first, are the seasonal events in the form of initiatives by municipalities, and they are not typical festivals; the second are in the form of shows and concerts by Arab and foreign performers organized by production companies around the year, and thirdly, the international festivals, namely Baalbek, Beitiddine and Byblos festivals. To note, since the beginning of this summer, our portal monitored about 11 festivals in the different Lebanese regions (for more information about the festivals, see links below), and they are mostly first class, according to Sardouk, who clarified that the rating of said events is the job of the ministry of interior. Elucidating on financial issues, including the high taxes on revenues which soared by nearly 33% this year, she disclosed that the parliament has turned down a request by festival organizers to exempt them from taxes on the pretext that the concerts’ ticket money can be a great financial resource for them. In conclusion, Sardouk revealed that no decree has been issued to date for the disbursement of allocations from the ministry to festivals and events, noting that the ministry annually earmarks roughly LBP 4 billion to sponsor such activities, with a part allocated to local events in the different Lebanese regions. (An Nahar, August 17, 2018) 
 

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Summer festivals in Habbariyeh and Dhur Shuwayer
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Summery festivals in Sawfar, Qubayat

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Cannabis legalization: Concerns in Beqaa over licensing and profit distribution

16-8-2018

Al Diyar newspaper reflected in an article the fears and concerns in Beqaa on the fate of the cannabis after recent calls for legalization of the crop, given the reluctant and supporting stances to the issue. Quoting sources close to large farmers, heads of agricultural coops and regional clans, Al Diyar wrote that the marijuana has been widely grown in the area come rain or shine not requiring any support or decree to legalize it. The newspaper voiced speculations about the purpose behind its regulation and concern over the fate of the crop in the Beqaa region, especially with the mounting rumors of the cancellation of 700 to 800 licenses and confining the process in the Beqaa area while restricting the tobacco to the South. The newspaper anticipated that the marijuana licenses will be released in accordance with the rules regulating the tobacco and tombac licenses (c.f : https://bit.ly/2nHtZ1S), but wondered about potential beneficiaries, be them the land proprietors or farmers. On the subject, Abbas Asadallah Shams, stressed on behalf of the local clans, that ordinary farmers should be the primary beneficiaries, referring to what’s been circulated about the limited number of licenses and the modest profit shares allocated to farmers, which, he warned, encourages area residents to keep their mafia work. For his part, the Beqaa Farmers Union head, Ibrahim Tarshishi, pointed out that the Union backs the legalization of marijuana if it is controlled by the State only, demanding the setting up of a special entity to fully run and manage the delivery of supplies. He said the Union is against the cultivation of thousands of dunums which might cause harm to the agricultural sector on a whole, and expressed fear that the legalization could be a compromise involving the preferential distribution of shares among political parties. (Al Diyar, August 13, 2018)

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Festivals boost tourism which lost half-a million visitors

16-8-2018

The head of the tourism committee at the Economic and Social Council, Wadi’ Kanaan, confirmed that the month of June has seen a surge in the number of Arab visitors to the country by 20% and of Europeans by 10% compared to last year, according to tourism ministry figures. The hotel occupancy rate has risen by 8% to 10% against last year, Kenaan told Al Mustaqbal, noting that the festivals held in the different Lebanese regions have been successful and contributed immensely to the rural tourism industry. The Lebanese expatriate, he said, was again a key player in the equation. Kenaan stressed that the reopening of Nassib Crossing will positively impact on trade and tourism, especially that Lebanon lost some 500,000 visitors due to the Syrian crisis. Tourism ministry statistics put the total number of incoming visitors at 262,779 persons during last July, up by 6.13% from the same period of the past year, with Europeans making nearly 38.07% during July, Arabs 24.24% and 22.41% visitors from the Americas. In the latest summer festivities, the tourism minister in the caretaker government, Avedis Guidandian, at the invitation of Al Safa Touristic Investment Group, inaugurated on Monday the newly refurbished Grand Nabeh el Safa Casino restaurant. On the occasion, the general manager of the Group owner of the restaurant, Ghassan Naaman, said the renovation of a prominent touristic establishment shall have its positive impact on the restoration and development of similar touristic businesses in the area. Guidanian for his part, said a touristic region is excluded only if it is overlooked by its own people. (Al Mustaqbal, August 14, 15, 2018)

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