The head of the 'Gathering of farmers of the South' Abdel Mohsen Al Husseiny, in a statement issued yesterday, demanded of the newly formed Lebanese government to work at finding a solution for marketing agricultural products especially citrus crops, and to respond to the demands of farmers who have incurred huge losses on a daily basis in view of the reduction of prices in local markets as a result of the lack of export markets especially since the closure of the Syria - Jordan border, which negatively impacted Lebanese agricultural exports to Arab countries and Gulf countries particularly. During a visit he made to citrus and banana groves south of Qassmieh where he met with several farmers, Al Husseiny appealed to the President of the Republic, Prime Minister, and Head of Parliament, as well as relevant Ministers "..to work towards opening external markets". He also requested that President Aoun shares their economic plight with Saudi Arabia and Qatar during his visit tour that started yesterday.
(Al Diyar Jan 10, 2017)