Neglect of wheat cultivation and climate hazards undermine food security in Lebanon

Wheat farming in the Beqaa recorded an acute drop in production this year in the wake of the frost storms that hit the area early last May. In normal conditions, yearly wheat growing in the Beqaa stands at nearly 95 thousand acres of land with a production level varying between 60 to 70 thousand tons per year. However, production this season is not expected to exceed 30% of normal harvest i.e. only 25 thousand tons. Normally, the overall production of wheat in the Baalbek-Hermel, the rest of the Beqaa, Akkar and Marjeyoon barely covers 10% of the domestic market demand estimated at 440 thousand tons every year, with domestic consumption relying largely on import from Russia, Australia and the United States. Wheat farmers two days ago carried out visits Beqaa MPs to mobilize their support in requesting the minister of economy to speed up the collection and financial settlement of this year wheat harvest. They urged Prime Minister Salam to raise that issue during the forthcoming cabinet meeting and as well as issues of fair prices and compensations to farmers for losses. It is also to be noted that about 40% of people in the Beqaa depend for livelihoods on agriculture. According to the head of whet farmers union, Khaled Shuman, there exist also other problems confronting farmers, among which is the issue of categorization of production according to quality standards, and their inability to cover the cost of storage. As a result of the latter factor farmers are often forced to leave a large part of their harvest in the fields at the risk of being spoiled or burned. (Al Diyar, As Safir, 28 & 29 July 2015)