Agricultural exports of Lebanon increase by 54% in 2013

As Safir newspaper published a report on the situation of agricultural exports in 2013.  The report noted that these exports are still on the increase in a way that is largely unprecedented.  Indeed, the figures released by the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in Zahleh indicated that more than 10000 exports certificates were issued by 30/10/2013 which represented an increase of 2000 certificates compared to the same period in 2012.  
Hence, the volume of agricultural exports from the Beqaa in 2013 increased by 54% compared to 2012, according to the Chamber’s statistics. The report also recorded a 30% increase in the export of potato.  This increase was confirmed by the president of the syndicate of potato growers in the Bekaa, George Sakr, who spoke of a year that was profitable for potato farmers despite the rise in cost of land transport.  According to the Minister of Agriculture, the increase in agricultural export is primarily due to the positive effects of the Syrian crisis which opened new markets for Lebanese farmers as a result of the decrease in competition, namely in both Iraq and Jordan..  The second reason of this good performance is the increased diversity of agricultural products and the opening of new possibilities for export by land, air and by sea, (the latter now accounting for more than 40% of exports). We also emphasised the efforts expanded by his ministry in improving quality as well as following a policy of rational use of pesticides, insisting on lab tests and the return of IDAL and the programme to support exports.
Source: Al-Safir 10 January 2014