Promising olive season in Marjeyoun, poor in Akkar

Al Mustaqbal newspaper indicated in its issue last Saturday that climate change has badly impacted the various agricultural seasons in Akkar, the North, and the most affected were the olive plantations. Jaber Nasr, one of the area’s big olive farmers, noted a remarkable fall in the produce this year, while the demand on the crop, he said, remained within the acceptable range. He pointed out that the “halt of olive import from neighboring countries and the control of olive oil smuggling from Syria would boost the prices and the sales of this kind of agriculture.” Nasr said he expected the retail price of one kilogram of green olives to stand between L.L 3000 and 3500, and the 20-liter olive oil container to exceed 200 thousand Lebanese pounds this year.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star reflected a more resilient atmosphere coming from the southern plains of Deir Mimas, Kafraya, Kfarkila and Marjeyoun. Um Jalal Kadoura, from Kafraya, told the newspaper that this year’s produce is “good and promising, and so is the rate of demand.” The Daily Star highlighted the supportive role of local and international non-government organizations in the south, particularly for the olive industry, through the provision of financial and extension assistance, including the proper funds to buy olive press machines and the required pesticides. (Al Mustaqbal, Daily Star, October 24, 2015)