Akkar potato farmers call for aid to replant seeds

$1.5 million losses in blizzard aftermath

Farmers in Akkar are replanting potato seeds in the district situated between the Nahr al-Kabir basin and al-Ostwan River which were flooded during the 'Olga' storm two weeks ago. Taleb Merhi, a farmer in Akkar said: “The flooding damaged part of the potato plantations.” He said about 1,500 tons of potato seeds were ruined.

Each ton of seeds costs $1,000. The total losses reached some $1.5 million. Akkar farmers plant around 4,000 tons of potato seeds each year. The annual potato production is around 300,000 tons. Some 250,000 tons are produced in the Bekaa, and 50,000 tons in Akkar. Around fifty percent of the local produce is exported.

The potato harvest was expected to begin on April 15. Merhi said the flood will delay the harvest by 25 days. “Farmers will be forced to borrow from traders if the government doesn't pay them compensations,” he said.

Ibrahim Tarshishi, Head of the Association of Bekaa Farmers, said: “Bekaa farmers didn’t suffer from this problem, because they only recently began planting the potato seeds.” The Bekaa’s potato harvest season is due on June 15. Traders import about 50,000 tons of potato during February and March.