Akkar farmers appeal for help while the government studies marketing alternatives

A month after the closure of the Nassib crossing at the Syrian-Jordanian borders and the halt of land transport to Arab Gulf countries, agricultural production continues to pile in domestic markets. Potato harvest season in the northern district of Akkar has already started with no prospects for sales outside the local market. In an attempt to seek urgent help, potato growers met Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb who expressed his determination to work on finding appropriate solutions to the emerging crisis. The visiting delegation also asked the Minister to mediate with the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon, IDAL so as to raise the support to farmers. According to chief of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, the crisis is of general nature as hundreds of thousands of apple boxes have already been stored, while the harvest of lemon, greengage, and herbs that usually start in May are now compromised. According to Al Akhbar newspaper, Howayek estimations of exports from the forthcoming season which will begin this month were as such: 8400 tons of lemon, 14500 tons of potato, 3000 tons of greens and vegetables and 1500 tons of all sorts of other local fruits. These exportable quantities he noted, require 24 trucks on daily basis throughout the month of May, i.e. a total of 720 trucks. The newspaper warned that farmers may stop all harvesting to avoid losses resulting from the slump in production which in turn will bring down prices to below the cost of production. In a related note, Industry Minister Hussein Haj Hassan chaired last Monday a joint inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the government’s support to Lebanese exporters, industrialists and farmers in the case of resorting to sea shipping alternative following the closure of the Nassib crossing. Haj Hassan announced afterwards that the meeting focused on economic facts particularly the extra costs of shipping and extra time. Once gathered, these figures will be submitted to the government to decide on the requested financial assistance for covering the extra costs, noting a positive Cabinet feedback on this matter. (Al Akhbar, As Safir, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, 8,9 and 12 May 2015)