In protest against the continuous smuggling of foreign produce, a number of Beqaa farmers staged a sit in on June 29 at the vegetable market of Forzul-Central Beqaa where they tossed their produce on the road. Meanwhile, the general secretary of public relations at the General Union of Agricultural Unions, Ali Shuman, grieved the disastrous situation of agriculture demanding a political solution to the impasse. He said that the Lebanese Army’s decision to restrain smuggling activity is not enough, and gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to resolve the issue before resorting to escalation. He mentioned an intention to burn trucks used in smuggling in the heart of the Forzul market and other marketplaces. Concurrently, a group of farmers blocked the Shtura highway at the town of Makseh and threw vegetables and fruits on the road which caused heavy congestion in the area. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, July 1, 2019)