REPORT: Lebanese farmers fear unfavorable weather may damage the potato season

Farmers in Akkar took benefit of the good weather and rushed to their lands to plant potatoes; an agricultural foods that farmers in the region grow as a main source of their livelihood.

While women cut seed kernels, men plowed the fields and prepared the land.

Despite this, concern is obvious among farmers who are burdened with worries as a result of the losses they faced in previous years due to the storms that damaged their plants and the absence of any type of compensation.

Farmers say that good weather is one of the most important factors in the success of the potato season seemingly since this plant is highly affected by bad weather conditions such as cold and frost.

The farmers added that planting 1 ton of potatoes costs $US 4000 in addition to the cost of labor and fields.

They mentioned that their major problems are exporting their goods, especially with foreign products filling the local markets.

Farmers called on concerned officials including the Minister of Agriculture Hussein Hajj Hassan to protect their goods and not to import potatoes from foreign countries so long as Lebanese products are available.