Farmers in Beqaa start delivering the tobacco harvest and demand an increase in prices

The delivery of the tobacco harvest in Beqaa – Hermel has begun last week with the three reception centres witnessing intense activity during the early hours of the day.  Farmers were disappointed by the low prices they received for their harvest.  Farmer Hussein el Shell told An Nahar newspaper that the price per kilo did not exceed LBP 10000 this year compared to LBP 11000 – 12500 for last year.  He added that this is situation is unfair for Beqaa farmers especially that the production cost this year was higher because of the draught and the rise in labor costs and organic fertilizers. In a related vein, the executive bureau of the union of tobacco growers in the Beqaa issued a statement last Friday demanding an increase in prices in view of galloping production costs and the economic hardships faced by farmers.  The statement also called for an increase in production from 300 Kgs per growing license to a minimum of 400 Kgs as well as the inclusion of tobacco farmers in the National Social Security Fund scheme.

 

(Source: Annahar 28 January 2015)