Avocado growing, a promising alternative crop in the absence of governmental support

Al-Safir newspaper published a report about alternative agricultural crops which the farmers have piloted to overcome high cost of production of traditional crops and difficulties in marketing. The report noted the success of some of new crops, such as avocado, which farmers are now growing and selling on large scales with level of prices that are competitive to imported avocados. Furthermore, the report also noted that traders confirm that successes in growing are being recorded in a context of non public support. They stressed that avocado is able to compete in the local markets and that large quantities can also be exported, particularly to Arab countries, if governmental support, especially from the Ministry of Agriculture, can be forthcoming.
The president of Ghadi environmental association, Fadi Ghanem, noted that the seedling nursery of his association is presently catering to the needs of farmers, but cautioned against over reliance on avocado production and at the expense of more traditional crops. Ghanem added the agriculture in Lebanon should adapt to climate change, but without taking uncalculated risks. For her part, agriculture engineer, Jinan Abu Sa3eed, noted that there is a large demand on avocado saplings, adding that the fact that the avocado tree is less prone to diseases and is quick to yield income have encouraged farmers to resort to planting.
Source: Al-Safir 28 November 2014