Banana farmers strike over transport crisis

First ferry on its way to Aqaba

Banana and citrus fruit farmers in Tyr held a strike protesting the ban enforced by Syrian authorities on trucks entering their border. Refrigerated trucks were not being granted access to Syria in response to the ban enforced by Lebanon on Syrian fuel trucks.

Farmers and fruit packaging workers have called for another protest if their goods were not shipped to Syria. Lebanon exports 35 percent of its bananas and citrus fruits to the Syrian market. “This percentage has dropped in recent years since Syrian farmers now plant these types of fruit,” said Mohamad Saleh, Head of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Saida and South Lebanon.

Saleh said a ferry carrying 60 truckloads of fruits and vegetables has set sail towards the Aqaba Gulf. “We are testing the time and cost of the ferry route as a possible solution to export industrial equipment and agricultural products.” One truck can carry up to 30 tons of agricultural produce. This is the first ferry that makes the trip to Aqaba in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture.