A technical committee commissioned by the Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Ali Abdullah Ali has recently begun examining the potato disease widespread in Lebanon. Lebanese agriculture ministry is working to thwart the disease, which reduces plant-yield by nearly 20 to 40 percent. The potato itself, however, is left unharmed.
According to Assafir daily, the committee reportedly studied various potato farms in order to further understand the disease and its causes. Samples of potato plants were collected from infected farms, in order to be sent to further analysis in laboratories.
Lebanon has a great stake in alleviating the current crisis. Agriculture is an important part of the local economy, with about nine percent of the working-age population employed in agricultural related occupations.
In addition to a thriving local market, agricultural exports represent a significant part of the influx of foreign currency for Lebanon, with produce amounting to between 15 and 25 percent of all exports. Ten percent of the country’s GDP is derived from this sector. ― (MENA Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
