Potato growers in Akkar lament this year harvest amidst government’s inertia

After the closure of the only land route for Lebanese exports to the Arab Gulf countries, Jordan and Iraq, potato farmers in Akkar were left in limbo as to how to market this year harvest, particularly that the domestic market was flooded with foreign, namely Egyptian imports of potato. To this effect, chief of the Cooperative for Potato Growers in Akkar, Omar Hayek, said that some 100 thousand tons of potato which were harvested this year in the northern district of Akkar are still awing to be marketed. He added that the Lebanese market at best, and in the absence of foreign competition, will absorb only 50 thousand tons. Subsequently, some 50 thousand in production will need to be exported. Hayek noted that around 1000 households basically make a living from the cultivation of potato, which represents a key pillar of agriculture in Akkar. However, he lamed that farmers are now drowning in debts whether loans or property mortgage, which they had to incur in order to cover rising production expenses. He added that farmers began their protest three months ago but have not to date received any positive response from the government. Prices which at the opening season were remarkably modest, LBP300 per one Kg, relatively improved in the wake of the farmers’ movement, but remain below what is needed, as one kg of potato is sold at LBP 400 whereas production cost is on average estimated at LBP 450. (As Safir, 28 May 2015)