Potato farmers in Lebanon press for compensation over losses

Potato farmers in Lebanon said Monday they are unable to market their produce, calling on the government to compensate their losses.

Farmers in Bekaa said around 40,000 tons of potato were littering the warehouses without being able to export it.

Head of Bekaa Farmers’ Association Ibrahim Tarshishi said Saudi Arabia had refused to receive a shipment which was due 50 days ago.

Tarshishi announced that farmers in the area had already accumulated losses of around $50 million.

He said that Saudi Arabia had rejected the shipment in an effort to protect local produce but had violated the accords of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, stressing that the issue was not related to politics.