The Minister of Agriculture and Economy in discussion in cooperation to combat monopoly and high prices

The Minister of Agriculture, Nizar Hani, held a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Al -Bassat in the Ministry of Agriculture, in the presence of the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Louis Lahoud, and the Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Trade Dr. Muhammad Abu Haidar, along with a number of representatives of unions concerned with farmers, merchants, exporters and importers, in addition to representatives of the poultry sector, live meat, refrigerated, folders, and wholesaler markets The supermarket, and a number of officials in the two ministries.

The meeting comes in light of the high prices and economic challenges facing citizens.

Protect farmers and consumers

Minister Hani stressed during the meeting that “protecting farmers and consumers is a shared responsibility, which calls for the integration of efforts between different parties.”

He stressed “the necessity of combating monopoly and mutual economic pressures,” noting that it is determined to “reactivate the agricultural sectoral committees soon to regulate the sector and ensure an effective partnership between all those concerned to advance it.”

He pointed out that “the Arab market represents the main destination of Lebanese agricultural products, which requires enhancing cooperation and organizing dealing with it.”

He also stressed the importance of improving the quality of agricultural crops and adopting sustainable agricultural practices adapting to climate changes. He revealed that the ministry will begin, upon the end of the competent authorities, to evaluate agricultural damage, by sending field teams to limit the losses and develop a plan to address them.

Hani noted in cooperation with the Arab countries and its willingness to support Lebanon, stressing “the importance of opening new markets and reviewing commercial agreements in proportion to the national agricultural calendar.”

He also announced the launch of a broad guidance campaign aimed at educating farmers on ways to improve the quality of agricultural products and enhance their competitiveness in the local and foreign markets.

Increase local production

For his part, Minister Al -Bassat stressed that “the best solution to face inflation and high prices lies in increasing local production and increasing the supply in the markets.”

He stressed that “the protection of consumers comes at the top of the ministry’s priorities,” noting that “work according to a multi -axes strategy that includes:

• Tightening control of food products and basic commodities, and conducting periodic checks to ensure quality and preventing price manipulation.

• Enabling citizens to report any illegal abuses or practices in the markets.

• Enhancing cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the relevant authorities to ensure the commitment of products to health standards and quality.

• Applying the competition law to control prices and combat monopoly.

• Coordination with the Parliament to amend the laws of consumer protection and enhance control mechanisms.

Food security guarantee

The meeting also discussed the mechanisms of cooperation between the two ministries to ensure food security and the safety of food products in Lebanon.

The union representatives also presented interventions, which stressed the need to support farmers, combat smuggling, and enhance the partnership for consumer protection and productive sectors.

The attendees emphasized, “The provision of goods and products in the markets, with lighting on the challenges facing farmers and merchants, especially in relation to the obstacles to export and import through transit.

They also demanded the activation of coordination between the two ministries to receive wheat production.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to continue cooperation in the supervisory procedures, publish information about markets and prices, and inviting citizens to be partners in monitoring prices and reporting any violations through the available electronic means.