Seminar in the Institute for Industrial Research on the role of agricultural cooperatives

The Institute for Industrial Research organised last week a seminar entitled: “Agricultural Cooperatives Feed the World and the transformation of cooperatives into development potentials”.  The event was organised at the Institute’s premises at the Rafic Al-Hariri University Campus – Hadath, and in collaboration with the National Union of Cooperatives and Cooperative Credit Union. With the participation of the minister of Agriculture Dr. Hussein Hajj Hassan, the General Director of the Institute for Industrial Research, and representatives from cooperatives.

In his speech, the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Hajj Hassan revealed the extent of support bestowed to cooperatives in Lebanon.  According to the Minister, farmers received in 2012 a total financial aid amounting to 2 million dollars in addition to drugs and fertilizers of the value of 6 million dollars, 2 million dollars worth of tree seedlings, veterinary drugs and vaccines for 3 million dollars, construction of roads and water reservoirs for 15 million dollars and other miscellaneous support in the whereabouts of 2 million dollars. Additional support included 2 million dollars worth of specialized equipments, feedstock valued at 8 million dollars, support to wheat and barley growing valued at 3 million dollars, and support from IDAL totaling 3 million dollars.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 11 May 2013