Agricultural fair in Nabatiyeh to help market local production

The mayor of Nabatiyeh announced in a press conference yesterday the launch of the ‘Khairat Ardna’ fair expected to open tomorrow, Friday and continue until January 16, in the southern city’s central vegetable and fruit market. Dr. Ahmad Kahil said the exhibition will showcase rural handicrafts and artisan goods, as well as traditional food (mouneh) items, including jams, vinegars, chocolates, herbs and spices and organic agriculture products. The event, Kahil explained, is organized by the municipality of Nabatiyeh, in cooperation with the agriculture ministry and Jihad al Binaa Development Association, and in partnership with UNDP in the South. Revealing a scheme to turn it into a permanent landmark, Kahil said the exhibition hosts some 30 cooperatives, in addition to individual local producers. It includes lectures on how to pack and package agricultural goods and how to take care of fruit-bearing trees, in addition to instructions on food safety and marketing, according to Kahil. In conclusion, Kahil stressed the purpose of similar undertakings which is to galvanize local economic cycle through stimulating cooperative and agriculture activities in Nabatiyeh and the environs, bridge the producer-consumer gap and assist in the marketing of products of agricultural coops and small farmers, and finally, promote local rural and organic agricultural production. (Al Diyar, January 5, 2017)