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Progress in resolving some of the agricultural problems

25-10-2017

The Higher Relief Committee reportedly began yesterday dispensing the second instalment of compensation for apple growers, totaling LBP 20 billion and which was due last August. Concerning the Lebanese potato trucks stranded in the Aqaba Port in Jordan, Prime Minister Saad Hariri called yesterday his Jordanian counterpart who agreed to facilitate the entry of Lebanese potatoes after checking their quality. Furthermore, the minister of economy and trade, Raed Khury announced at a press conference yesterday that his ministry has resumed delivery of the 2017 wheat and barley harvest after a 2-season suspension. Khury who was speaking after a tour to the wheat warehouses to supervise the delivery of supplies said he expected the delivery of some 45 thousand tons of the crops for the current season. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, October 19, 20, 25, 2017)

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Minister of Industry criticizes the absence of long term government planning

24-10-2017

As part of an EU-funded program, the Social and Economic Council hosted yesterday a dialogue session headed by industry minister Hussein Haj Hassan entitled, ‘supporting the industry and promoting exports’. Haj Hassan recalled an incident last week when an ambassador asked him if Lebanon has a specific industrial development policy, and to which he replied, “the minister has gotten a plan but not the government”. “The solution to our continuous economic crises lies in the adoption of a 10-year economic scheme or vision with clear objectives and programs,” Haj Hassan maintained. He considered the high cost of production to be the main hitch slowing down domestic industry, and requested the following on part of the government: leasing state and municipality-owned lands to industrialists at competitive rent prices; compensating the cost of electricity, and dispensing salaries for Lebanese workers. The minister made clear that export is the key to resolving the national economy crisis, pointing to difficulties in the entry of made-in-Lebanon goods to world markets while Lebanon is open to the global production. He said “a country that can survive with a massive deficit in trade balance is non-existent.” For his part, the Social and Economic Council president, Roger Nasnas, underlined the role of the industry as a pivot for the resurgence of Lebanon. He gave some suggestions to address the situation, including: Expansion of the protection of national industry; adjustment of the debilitated public institutions; restoration of a modern reform system of the public sector; commitment to complete and strict observance of relevant laws; reduction of public indebtedness; revision and reformation of the file of the refugees and foreign laborers, and finally, regulation of the vocational and higher education programs in light of the labor market requirements. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, October 24, 2017)

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Imports of poultry unrestricted despite damages to local producers

23-10-2017

Despite the repeated official statements to protect the agricultural and productive sectors, the minister of agriculture Ghazi Zeiater announced after a meeting on Friday with the Syndicate of Poultry Farmers and representatives of independent poultry farmers that the import of frozen chicken is open and cannot be regulated. He pointed to a decision by former minister Akram Shehayeb that constrained the process to a prior permit. Zeitar also disclosed an agreement with the above syndicate to secure the needs of the local market until August 2018, and a gradual reduction of import. In a related incident, An Nahar newspaper reported on Friday that the Lebanese poultry industry which employs over 20 thousand persons providing for some 20 thousand families is appealing for help. Domestic poultry, the newspaper wrote, has had a key role since 1960 securing the complete needs of local consumers until May 24, 2008, when the government then issued a directive reducing (from 70% to 20%) the customs tariffs on imported frozen chickens and poultry. On the subject, the secretary of the Lebanese Poultry Syndicate, Wiliam Butros, said what is needed today is the adoption of a protection policy for national production, noting that the poultry sector has, since 2008, been on a downward spiral, particularly with the upsurge in the importation from Brazil and the Ukraine. Butros spelled out to An Nahar that the size of import has reached around 10,000 tons, equivalent to 30 million chickens, at a time domestic production has roughly reached 80 million chickens. Butros mentioned that more than 300 farms in the country have closed since 2008 as a result of the unrestrained import, including 113 farms in Akkar alone. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, October 20 and 21, 2017) Previews related news: Lebanon may resort to trade barriers to safeguard its industry from external dumping http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/lebanon-may-resort-trade-barriers-safeguard-its-industry-external-dumping High time for poultry producers to stage their protest http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/high-time-poultry-producers-stage-their-protest New government measures in support of poultry, dairy sectors http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/new-government-measures-support-poultry-dairy-sectors Ministry of Industry considering taxing imports to protect the industrial sector in Lebanon http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/ministry-industry-considering-taxing-imports-protect-industrial-sector-lebanon

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Avocado cultivation boom in South Lebanon

23-10-2017

L’Orient Le Jour highlighted today the booming cultivation of avocado in the country according to FAO statistics which pointed to some 3700 growers, including 80% in the South and the remaining in the Akkar region. Extoling the features of this kind of agriculture, Shafiq Eid from Jezzine said he started planting the crop six years ago and is now harvesting around one thousand tons every year, mentioning that he had to wait three years for the production to yield. Eid said he received support through the USAID-funded Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development Project (LIVCD) launched from 2012 to 2019 at USD 56.2 million, and which allocated USD 3 million to the growing of avocado. Sandra Fahd, an expert on the US program, explained that the latter aims to educate farmers on how to attend to this agriculture to double production, improve quality and select the convenient varieties. She noted that since the kick-off of the avocado support undertaking in 2013 (as part of the LIVCD project), the USAID has trained about 900 farmers, backed some 853 small and medium enterprises in the field and prepared 800 hectares of land for the planting of avocado. Fahd maintained that while the rate of production at the local level did not change (8200 tons per year), the US agency has contributed to introducing new varieties. She praised the unique properties of avocado from the early fruit stages which lasts more than other crops, the significant financial proceeds, (one kg is sold at LBP 2500 to 4500), with nearly 90% consumed domestically. To note, Lebanon has imported in 2016 some 326 tons at USD 641,000 and exported 492 tons at USD 561,000, destined mainly to the Arab Gulf states. (L’Orient Le Jour, October 23, 2017)

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Olive picking and pressing festival in Koora

23-10-2017

The Agricultural Cooperative for the Development of Olive Produce in Darbaachtar, Koora, inaugurated on Saturday the second edition of the Olive Harvest Festival, with the support of the Municipality and in cooperation with USAID. On the occasion, the Coop chief, Jose Bou Ghosn, said the event brings together the consumer and the producer, introduces visitors to the area’s distinctive features, namely olives and virgin olive oil, and educates buyers to mindfully choose the good olive and olive oil products. Similarly, the USAID director of the Olive Oil Sector, engineer Roland Andari, stressed the significance of the festival particularly to outsiders coming from Beirut, Junyeh and other regions of Lebanon who are unaware of the different stages of growing and picking the olive trees up to olive oil processing. For his part, Darbaachtar mayor, engineer Isaac Abud, lauded the yearly festivity for spotlighting Koura and its agricultural olive produce, describing the event as a useful opportunity for local consumers to get the best quality olives, olive oil and soaps. To note, the 2-day festival saw awareness seminars on the proper methods to care for olives and olive oil, in addition to a home-made mouneh exhibition and a tour for visitors in the olive groves, a visit to the olive press and the soap factory while they enjoying walking in nature. (Al Diyar, October 22, 2017)

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Maintenance professions, a new technical baccalaureate to raise youth employability

19-10-2017

As part of the ‘Skills for Lebanon’ program funded by the French Development Agency, the director general of the Vocational and Technical Education at the Ministry of Education, Ahmad Diab, launched the Technical Baccalaureate Maintenance Jobs degree. The above program implemented over a period of four years aims at increasing the employability of marginalized youth through upgrading the quality of technical education, as well as, empowerment of the capacities of the General Directorate of the Vocational and Technical Education and the training host technical schools. To note, the new training ‘maintenance careers’ comes as a response to a large demand every year on technicians and maintenance specialists, targeting not only the industry sector (accommodating 250 technicians annually, with a 25% contribution to the GDP), but also the construction, shopping, hospital and hospitality sectors. Job prospects for maintenance professionals are wanted for sectors like: industrial production areas (agro-food, pharmaceuticals, packaging and packing); management and maintenance of buildings, hospitals, hotels, and specialized maintenance (elevators for example). On the occasion, Diab revealed that this kind of specialty is adopted for the first time in Lebanon, noting that scholarships encourage and motivate students to enroll in the field which is not restricted to men, but which benefits females as well. (Al Mustaqbal, October 19, 2017)

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Recommendations for supporting SMEs in Lebanon

19-10-2017

The Lebanon Small and Medium Enterprise Conference (LSMEC 2017) organized by Synergies Events (October 17 and 18) pressed the need to accelerate support to SMEs at the level of public and private sectors. Recommendations issued at the end of the conference called for the following: Adopt and support the ministry of economy and trade’s strategy in strengthening SMEs; facilitate the procedures for starting up new companies and reduce associated government fees and basic costs; bolster partnership between the private and public sectors; remove bureaucratic obstacles; foster Lebanese banks and financial institutions to develop a comprehensive approach for provision of an all-inclusive package of financial services; upgrade financial infrastructure to expedite loans across the legal and operational areas; encourage innovation in marketing and the promotion of SMEs products, and finally, exercise an effective management of human resources in terms of recruitment, training and entrepreneurship. (Al Mustaqbal, October 19, 2017)

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Potato of Lebanon banned from entering Jordan despite the trade agreement

18-10-2017

Trucks loaded with Lebanese potato have been stranded for three days at the Port of Aqaba despite the recent Jordanian-Lebanese agreement on September 27 allowing  entry of made-in-Lebanon agricultural goods as of October 15, including potato (c.f: http://bit.ly/2x4U6my). Some 5,000 tons of Lebanese potatoes aboard 35 trucks and 115 refrigerated containers are anchored inside the Port, according to the chief of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi. To this effect, Tarshishi appealed to all concerned Lebanese parties to talk the Jordanian authorities into opening the borders and end the crisis, particularly that potato growers in Lebanon are anticipating to market more than 30 thousand tons inside the markets of the Kingdom (where one kg is sold at USD 1). Tarshishi also spelled out the anguish of the farmers who have to swallow additional expenses due to the delay, including fees for parking at the Port of Aqaba, and the associated damage or depreciation in the quality of the products which left the country 15 days ago. Tarshishi finally warned of returning the cargo and truckloads to Lebanon which would mean an economic disaster for exporters and potato growers. (L’Orient Le Jour, An Nahar, October 18, 2017)

 

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SMEs conference for promoting expansion

17-10-2017

Under the title ‘Unleashing Growth Potential’, the Lebanon Small and Medium Enterprise Conference (LSMEC 2017) opened in Beirut under the patronage of the ministry of economy and trade (MoET), with the support of Banque du Liban and the Federation of Lebanese Chambers, and in cooperation with the finance and tele-communications ministries. Some 300 SMEs participated in the two-day event organized by Synergies Events (SE) which was attended by the heads of economic groups, officials, as well as political and diplomatic dignitaries. During the conference, the director general of SE, Bassima Nahi, said the conference will have a positive contribution to the growth and expansion of SMEs owned and operated by a large segment of the Lebanese citizens. Aliya Abbas, representing MoET minister, outlined the studies completed by the ministry and which have shown that SMEs make up nearly 93% to 95% of the overall operational institutions in the country. Abbas identified a number of challenges including: obstacles to growth; old, slow and sputtering economy; a business environment; financial turmoil and economic instability; lack of institutional coordination and inactive initiatives. Abbas drew attention to the role of the Ministry of Economy in supporting entrepreneurship in SMEs, based on an ambitious vision that views emerging companies as the main catalyst for economic growth and the boost of new job opportunities. The conference also saw the launch of regional initiatives aimed to attract Lebanese SMEs and allow them access to some Arab countries, namely in Kuwait and the UAE. In this context, the advisor to secretary general of the Supreme council for Planning and Development in Kuwait presented his country’s experience in backing these institutions. Additionally, the conference cast the prominent initiative launched by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works in financing SMEs, represented by the UAE Embassy in Beirut, in partnership with EMKAN and Bankmed. The initiative, to note, seeks to streamline the Emirati experience in funding youth and women projects with the aim to stimulate economy and reduce unemployment and poverty, especially in rural areas. (An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, October 17, 2017)

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Cannabis prospers in Beqaa amidst calls for legalisation

17-10-2017

Al Diyar newspaper spotlighted today the vast plains cultivated with cannabis in East and West Baalbaq up to the North Beqaa and the remote areas of Jrud Hermel, as well as, on the sidewalks to the highway and the entrances to the villages and towns in the area. The visitor to the region, Al Diyar wrote, can clearly see cannabis growers racing to pick the harvest before the rain, knowing that the produce needs to be completely dry ahead of processing in the months of December and January. The cannabis crop has invaded the grasslands of Baalbaq-Hermel not because “we are outlaws but because of the collapse of the seasons”, said the mayor of Majdalyoun, president of the Syndicate of Potato Farmers in the Province of Baalbaq-Hermel, Talal Kheiriddine. Farmers chose to grow weed for several reasons, Kheiriddine stated. First, due to its low-cost production that barely needs any capital, and second, to compensate for the losses of the potato and apple season slump, the fact that drove farmers to uproot their trees and replace them with cannabis, Kheiriddine explained. To know more on the subject, Al Diyar spoke to a number of farmers. Wael Omar, for example, made obvious that all those plains of cannabis are a result of the State’s negligence and lack of interest in legalizing the cultivation of the plant which, as he said, raises its prices. Ali Arrar, for his part, said that rural inhabitants tend to grow hashish to alleviate the chronic poverty brought upon them by the lax attitude of the government towards the people of the area. The absence of a proper agricultural policy has driven farmers to grow weed, he added. Similarly, Mohamad Hazimeh, said that the government is not treating the subject seriously, pointing to the alternative agriculture project adopted since 1992, which he dismissed as a “joke”. (Al Diyar, October 17, 2017)

 

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