Large losses to Iqleem banana farmers because of winter

Farmers of Iqleem Karroub expressed grave concerns on this year’s banana and citrus production devastated by the harsh winter storms that hit Lebanon recently. The aftermath was shocking to the area farmers whose livelihoods were reportedly threatened. One farmer Sami Saleh Uthman who exploits a 650-acre banana groves in the coastal town of Alman, explained that his annual land lease is LBP 45 million, added to it LBP 35 million in labor cost and fertilizers, resulting in losses amounting to LBP 45 million. He went on to add that his total income was only LBP 35 million to date against at least LBP150 million in the past. “The farmers’ seasons in Alman have been totally compromised this year,” Sami complained, adding that the banana market today is depressed. He noted that the price of one pound (2.5kgs) of banana fell from LBP 2500 to LBP1000. Farmer of the area urged the government to carry out a damage assessment in the coastal Chuf area as a prelude for compensating farmers for their heavy losses and in order to save their threatened livelihoods. (As Safir, 16 March 2015)