Cabinet support to farming exports welcomed but considered insufficient

Member of the Syndicate for Exporters of Citrus Fruits and Banana, Rida Fadel, the Cooperative Association of Fruit Trees and Seedlings in Central and West Bekaa, the President of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon and Head of Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber, Mohamad Shucair, as well as the President of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Tawfik Dabbussi, all praised the Cabinet decision of last week to support and subsidize sea exports. However, President of the Lebanese-Omani Business Council Shadi Masaad warned that the 7-month timetable set for the said decision is not sufficient to resolve a crisis that is likely to last longer. Meanwhile, Beqaa farmers went back to work and resumed those agricultural activities which were delayed by the recent closure of the land borders with Syria. In this respect, As Safir newspaper reported that the decision on maritime transport is expected to halt any further decline in prices of domestic fruit production. Prospects for the peach season seem promising since harvest was not completed. The newspaper noted that with the resumption of export activity, prices of fruits are expected to stabilize at normal levels. (Al Diyar, As Safir, 4 and 5 July 2015)