Akkar farmers demand government support of wheat cultivation

Wheat cultivation remains one of the key pillars of agriculture in the northern area of Akkar similarly to tobacco and grapes despite all challenges. However, local farmers are now demanding the concerned ministry to support this year harvest by raising the delivery price paid to farmers to LBP 800 from LBP 450. Wheat growers told Al Mustaqbal newspaper they were satisfied with the quality of this year’s season despite the lower than expected quantity. The lower production is due to the decline in the total area of cultivation resulting from reduced delivery prices which barely covers the increasing costs of pesticides, irrigation and labor, especially with the new restrictive government measures regarding the entrance of Syrian seasonal workers. Lebanese farmers point out to two main problems facing wheat cultivation: the low delivery price adopted by the Ministry of Economy, poor and inadequate storage conditions which affect the quality of the harvested crops. One farmer, Khudr Zahraman told the newspaper that the age old problem lies in government’s failure to adopt a clear timetable for receiving the harvest which causes problems in storage. “Today we harvest, but where and how do we store the yield, and in which conditions?” he noted before adding that the government seems not to be concerned with the plight of the farmers. He concluded that farmers have no option but to wait for the announcement of the wheat pricing list, noting that the premium rate quality is normally priced at LBP 595, the first rate at LBP 580, the second and third at LBP 570, with prices sliding down to as low as LBP 450. (Al Mustaqbal, 23 June 2015)