Collection of Southern and Beqaa tobacco harvests at low prices

The vice president of the Lebanese General Trade Union and head of Union of Tobacco Farmers, Hassan Faqih, announced on Saturday the start of purchase of the tobacco harvest season directly from southern and Beqaa farmers, and later to northern areas. Faqih pointed out that the purchase of last year’s production will kick off on Thursday, November 3, at 11 designated centers in the southern towns of Aita Chaab, Mais al Jabal, Aitroon, Nabatiyeh (2 locations), Srifa-Rmeish, Sidiqeen, Sawaneh and Tibnin, and in the presence of experts from the state-run Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs & Tombacs and representatives of the Syndicate who will facilitate the process. Faqih made clear that the average price of one kilogram stands at LBP 13 thousand, lamenting that this year did not carry new and more acceptable prices, yet, he added, “we are aware of the calamitous conditions of the agriculture sector in general, namely the agriculture of citrus fruits, banana, apples, cherries and olives.” He described the tobacco season in the South as excellent and boasts high quality, noting that the prices for the ‘excellent’ varieties would be between LBP 14,000- LBP 16,000. He also demanded an expansion to the farms and plantations, in the quantity of cultivated tobacco and the caliber of farmers. In conclusion, Faqih said that while Regie’s annual proceeds contribute considerably to the state treasury, the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri and the Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil should help tobacco growers increase the quantity of the planted crops. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, October 30 and 31, 2016)