In the latest local development activities in the regions, the municipality of Ainata-Al Arz, in collaboration with the Union of Municipalities of Deir Al Ahmar, and under the patronage of the minister of agriculture, Ghazi Zeiater, launched on Sunday the first annual apple festival. Zeiater, on the occasion, disclosed that the total apple cultivated area in Lebanon is nearly 12425 hectares producing some 263750 tons, including 2758 hectares in Baalbek-Hermel area with an output of 63500 tons. The minister said these figures are significant because they reflect the number of households living from this agriculture. Concurrently, the Chakka Municipality Environment Committee, in cooperation with UNDP, organized the ‘Environment Festival’ in partnership with the ministry of social affairs. The activity, which is part of the Support for Host Communities project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), included a cycle ride of 130 bicycles from al Marj Coast to promote pollution reduction. Similarly, Byblos kicked off last Saturday a two-day German Oktoberfest beer festival which was organised in the Roman street.
(An Nahar, Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, October 7, 8, 2018)