Lebanon is attempting to locally compensate for the shortage in wheat supplies by revitalizing agriculture, following years of negligence in this sector. Lebanese authorities previously declined to purchase local crops due to their "quality," favoring imports primarily from Russia and Ukraine.
On Saturday, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Abbas al-Haj Hassan denied the existence of a crisis in wheat, sugar, and oil, confirming that the rise in wheat prices is a result of the Ukrainian-Russian crisis. He assured citizens that "there is no crisis regarding sugar, oil, and wheat," emphasizing that the high prices are due to external factors impacting Lebanon.
Al-Haj Hassan noted that "all government efforts are currently focused on support for wheat," stating that "the Lebanese government has unanimously decided that the production of both soft and hard wheat will be managed by the Lebanese government, represented by the Ministry of Economy, and that a clear mechanism will be established regarding prices, timing, and payment." He added: "By the time the harvest season arrives, everything will be in order on this matter."
The Cabinet recently approved the Ministry of Agriculture's plan to revitalize the wheat sector, starting with the current season, where approximately 50,000 hectares of hard wheat and barley have been planted. The government has committed to purchasing all types of wheat and barley through the Ministry of Economy, as Lebanon needs to secure soft wheat for flour production.
Lebanon has around 330,000 hectares that can be utilized for planting, and the wheat sector could target at least 100,000 hectares.
