Meager financial compensations to 3arsaal farmers and poultry owners

After the sit-ins organized by 3arsaal farmers demanding compensation for their losses in fruit production (cherries, apricots and apples), the last of which was a sit-in held yesterday in front of the Grand Serail, the Cabinet decided to allocate a sum of LBP 10 billion (equivalent to USD 6.6 million) to the Higher Relief Council (HRC) to compensate losses of cherry growers incurred over the past three years and commissioned the Army to do the required field surveys. On the subject, 3arsaal’s deputy mayor, Rima Krumbi, told As Safir newspaper that the amount (LBP 10 billion) does not even represent half of the losses estimated at LBP 23 billion per year, according to statistics collected by the town’s agricultural committee. However, Krumbi pointed out that 3arsaal’s residents will persevere in following up their cause until the end. For its part, the aforementioned committee while considering the compensation as a significant step forward, drew attention to other important measures that are required notably:  Provision of the necessary agricultural inputs such as veterinary drugs, fodder to the livestock, seedlings and seeds to the farmers; the setting up of new agricultural projects; support to green houses and the opening of agricultural extension centers. The committee also demanded that safety of all roads leading to the orchards, that constitute the basis of the livelihoods of inhabitants, be firmly secured. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government during yesterday meeting also decided to allocate a sum of LBP 2.6 billion (USD 1.7million) to the HRC to compensate poultry farmers for the destruction of their production units by the Avian Influenza. (L’Orient Le Jour, As Safir, Al Diyar, October 14, 2016)  

 

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