Lebanon: Tobacco Farmers Say Price not Rising with Cost

Source from:  The Daily Star 11/02/2012

The Lebanese Tobacco Board commenced collecting 2012 harvest as farmers complained prices did not match increases in production costs. The National News Agency reported that the board started receiving the produce in 14 south Lebanon centers in Nabatieh, Marjayoun, Tyre and Bint Jbeil. Prices, the NNA reported, ranged from LL8,000 per kilogram for low-quality, LL13,000 for medium-quality and LL15,000 for high-quality produce.

The head of the tobacco farmers association said in a statement that prices paid by the board have remained unchanged since last year. "The prices did not increase from last year, despite the high quality of this year’s produce ... and soaring production costs," Hussein Fakih said. Fakih renewed farmers’ demands for entitling them for National Social Security Fund enrollment and compensation for losses during the 2006 conflict between Lebanon and Israel. Enditem