The Head of the Lebanese Farmers Association on Wednesday called on authorities to take active steps to allow Lebanese trucks to cross the Syrian border, accusing the Agriculture Ministry of mishandling the issue.
Antoine Howayek said the caretaker Cabinet should contact Syrian and Jordanian authorities to allow the return of Lebanese trucks that are still stranded along the Syrian-Jordanian border due to intense fighting.
Howayek said the closure of the Syrian borders had gravely affected Lebanese farmers who had planned to sell their crops in the neighboring country. “The closure of the borders is causing a massacre for Lebanese farmers.
Syria really needs Lebanese agricultural produce and we must oblige,” Howayek explained.
He also called on the Agriculture Ministry to adopt strict measures to end the dumping of cheap agricultural produce such as tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries into the Lebanese market, noting that such actions affect local farmers.
