Lebanese farmers are preparing to stage protests against their government's decision to suspend the so-called agricultural calendar. According to the Lebanese Farmers Association, this decision by the Minister of Economy and Trade will have a major negative impact on the livelihood of all of the country's farmers. Under the current agricultural calendar system, the country does not import certain types of agricultural products during certain seasons in order to protect its farmers. However, the government has said that removing this current system would benefit consumers by lowering prices and would allow for more open and fair competition. With local farmers fearing that cheaper produce from Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey will flood the market, they are fighting hard to prevent this decision from being implemented.
Because of significant differences in altitude within the country, Lebanon enjoys wide variation in its agricultural production. Although the country's agricultural sector has the potential to be highly productive, output suffers from underdevelopment and poor management. Currently, only 55% of the country's productive areas are being exploited and even in these cultivated areas, a high percentage of farmers' yields are lost because of inadequate storage methods. As a consequence, around 70% of Lebanon's food requirements must be imported, ranging from basic food products to specialities. Imports account for 100% of demand for sugar, rice, tea and coffee, while around 70% of meat requirements are met by imports. Given this already high level of dependence on imports, many in the government have tried to avoid importing even more food and drink products.
However, following the severe bombings by the Israeli army in the summer of 2006, the agricultural sector took a major hit. According to a report released by the UN' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the most recent conflict in Lebanon cost the country's agricultural industry around $280USmn, leaving farmers heavily indebted, with many unable to enter their fields or deliver their crops. Lebanon's farmers then used this report to lobby their government for greater support of their industry. However, with food prices on the rise globally, the government is also now coming under growing pressure from consumers to take any measures possible to lower food prices, which include the abolition of the agricultural calendar.Middle East and Africa Food and Drinks Insights
