After the controversy over importing Egyptian potatoes…a clarification from agriculture

The Information Department of the General Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture responded, in a statement, to what was reported in the media about MP Jimmy Jabour’s words about importing Egyptian potatoes to Lebanon, and clarified the following data:

1- Importing potatoes from Egypt to Lebanon is subject to the provisions of Law 48 issued in 1999, which regulates trade exchange between Lebanon and Egypt and specifies the period for importing potatoes from Egypt from February 1 to March 31 of each year.

2- As part of the preparation for the current season, more than one technical meeting was held with importers and relevant unions, followed up and supervised by the Minister and the Director General of Agriculture, which concluded with the issuance of two decisions to regulate the import process as well as the technical conditions to ensure the quality and safety of the product.

3- The competent authority in the General Directorate of Agriculture, based on the directives of the Minister of Agriculture, sent a notification to the Egyptian side to stop exports from Egypt on March 23, 2024, in compliance with the recommendations of the consultative meeting with unions, importers, and agricultural cooperatives that was held at the beginning of the season, out of concern for potato farmers in Akkar, our national production.

4- The quantity of potatoes imported from Egypt for food this year amounted to 52 thousand tons, which did not exceed previous years despite the presence of more than two million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, while the potatoes prepared for manufacturing reached 20 thousand tons and most of the quantity is re-exported after manufacturing.

5- The Arab Republic of Egypt is one of the largest importers of Lebanese apples and summer fruits, and the export of apples has exceeded the amount of more than 110 thousand tons, with special facilities from the Egyptian side for Lebanese products in terms of statements, examinations and entry.

Based on the directives of His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Abbas Al-Haj Hassan, the Akkar Agriculture Authority invited Akkar’s representatives to a meeting with His Excellency the Minister, which included Walid Al-Baarini, Saji’ Atiyah, Ahmed Rustom, Muhammad Yahya, and Jimmy Jabour, in addition to agricultural associations and cooperatives and a large number of farmers. Potatoes in the Akkar Plain.
The meeting took place in the meeting hall of the Akkar Agriculture Department, and after a welcoming speech from the representatives, His Excellency the Minister responded with a speech in which he thanked the attendees who responded to the invitation and hoped that an atmosphere of familiarity and cooperation would prevail for the benefit of everyone. The Minister called for careful investigation of the numbers of quantities entering the Lebanese market, as it is not permissible to deal with incorrect and illogical numbers in order to burden the Ministry with unreal matters.
Then the attendees moved to research on finding solutions to the quantities that harm potato cultivation in Akkar, as a result of the overcrowding of potatoes in the markets, and the consensus was on determining the quantities that enter between the first of February and the thirtieth of March, since the country only needs between thirty and forty thousand tons, and to build… Based on a proposal that met with everyone’s approval, it was agreed that the quantity would be determined next year after a study of the market and in agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and importers.
The attendees also called for the issuance of a draft resolution submitted by the representatives to amend the agreement with the Arab Republic of Egypt, in order to determine the quantity that can be imported without hitting the Lebanese market, ensuring the interest of everyone. His Excellency the Minister agreed with the representatives in order to follow up this matter with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and with the side. Al-Masry to protect Lebanese farmers, especially Al-Akkari. As a result of the meeting, there was agreement to follow up on this matter and for everyone to assume their responsibilities.

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