The Regie begins collecting tobacco from southern farmers

The Vice President of the General Trade Union, head of the Union of Tobacco Growers in Lebanon, Hassan Fakih, announced that the Regie (La Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs & Tombacs) has started yesterday collecting the tobacco produce for the years 2014 and 2015 in 10 supply centers in the South. These include the regions of Nabatieh- Regie building in Kfarroman, Sidikkin, Sawaneh- Tibnin, Srifa, Rmeish, Aitroun, Mais el Jabal, Aita al Shaab and Zahira. As for the areas of Akkar and the North, Fakih said the Regie will begin buying the crop harvest next Thursday and at a later stage from the Bekaa farmers. Fakih demanded raising the average cost of one kilogram of tobacco to 15 thousand Lebanese Pounds and helping tobacco growers, along with fisherfolks, benefit from the National Social Security Funds. In this respect, the Regie director Nassif Siklawi briefed the Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil who hailed the accomplishments made by the company so far. (Al Mustaqbal, As Safir October 28, 2015)