Promoting Southern farming

Ministry of Agriculture signs action plan on agricultural development in the South

The Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Hajj Hassan, signed an action plan for the development of the agricultural sector in the South.

The plan drafted the basis for cooperation between the ministry and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Sidon and the South.

The plan includes several measures to facilitate the procedures for the export of agricultural goods. Among those is recognizing the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture as a center for providing the documents required for exports, including the certificate of origin, the phytosanitary certificate, and certificates of laboratorial tests. The plan also entails the establishment of a laboratory to perform analysis.

The action plan included other measures to promote the agricultural products. Among these is organizing festivals and exhibitions, and encouraging farmers to get involved in such activities. The measures also include cooperation with Chambers of Commerce abroad so as to connect local exporters with foreign markets.

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture also intends to provide training to farmers through programs funded by the EU, or other donors, so as to help them obtain packaging quality certificates (ISO 22000).