Women reporting on pine kernels production amidst the monopoly of traders

As Safir newspaper published a report on pine kernel production in the Jezzine Caza where this is the prime agricultural production in the area, in pair with olives and grapes, and is a main source of livelihood for many inhabitants of the region.  The report outlines the difficulties farmers face especially in the harvesting and production phases.  According to the report, the village is keen on preserving its pine trees and reforestation is carried out annually.  Residents also go to neighboring villages, 7haytoura, Z7helti, and Bkasseen, where they also invest in pine planting and production as pine kernels are known as the “white gold” in view of the high selling price and especially since the Syrian crisis which halted the import of Turkish and Syrian pine kernels into Lebanon.  The latter situation directly resulted in increased sales of Lebanese production to Turkey and even Europe.  This has further pushed prices up which have reached LBP 100,000 per kilo as demand has exceeded supply.  Harvest this year faces grave problems following the advent of the Alexa storm which destroyed pine trees branches thus decreasing the expected harvests for this year and the following one.
Although pine trees do not require much maintenance, the value chain is quite expensive according to Um Rami who was interviewed by As Safir.  Um Rami and her children started picking up pine kernels some three years ago.  She describes this work as very much individual in nature with the absence of any input from agricultural organization or experts.  Um Rami laments the paucity of expert labor thus causing the cost of Syrian labor to increase to LBP 100,000 per day in addition to providing compulsory health insurance given that picking pine kernels is a hazardous occupation.  Um Rami said that this trade involves risk taking especially when selecting which field to work and harvest. To be noted that contractual agreements with land owners can extend from one to ten years.  Landowners are either paid a prohibitive cash amounts or are given half of the harvest.  Municipalities for their part tend to auction land for this purpose and take on acceptable leases in exchange of allowing pine kernels to be harvested.  Sayydeh Ruhana, while in agreement with Um Rami, shared for her part, hopes for the creation of a market where producers could readily sell their pine kernels to consumers free from the monopoly of merchants.
Source: Al-Safir 25 February 2014