The Minister of Agriculture in the caretaker government, Dr. Abbas Mortada, confirmed that the agricultural sector is the only remaining pillar of the Lebanese economy, and that the Lebanese state should pay attention to it, as it is a productive sector capable of supporting the state treasury amidst the current crisis.
The National News Agency reported Mortada during a virtual discussion session via the Clubhouse app this evening, stating that "the agricultural sector achieved a growth rate of 21% due to the efforts made by the ministry and injected over $700 million into the country." He affirmed that the ministry has completed a draft law for a farmers' fund to protect farmers from any damages they may face, as part of an initiative to incentivize farmers, which has been submitted to the parliamentary agriculture committee for presentation to the parliament.
Mortada referenced the issue of rising citrus prices in the markets and mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture has established an emergency room to monitor the prices of all agricultural products and food industries, and quickly adopted measures to curb this increase, such as the decision to ban the export of citrus fruits without prior permission obtained based on a study prepared by the ministry.
In response to rumors circulating about the cessation of subsidies, Mortada confirmed that support has not stopped, and there is currently no halt to subsidies. The support mechanism in place is still ongoing, and all transactions reach the Central Bank of Lebanon, emphasizing that support cannot cease before the issuance of the food card, as food security for citizens is a top priority. Mortada noted that the ministry is working on a draft law to promote fish farming, highlighting that it is unacceptable to have a coastline stretching 210 kilometers while importing fish worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
