Agriculture, Economy ministries tour vegetable markets to inspect prices

BEIRUT — The Agriculture Ministry said it will conduct a tour on Monday morning of vegetable markets and storage warehouses, in cooperation with the Economy Ministry, to inspect quantities, quality and prices, as the war between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon enters its second week.

This tour comes a day after the Agriculture Ministry stated that the high prices of some vegetables, fruits and several agricultural crops in the markets are not justified.

The Ministry said that the tour would begin on Monday at 9 a.m., with the aim of ensuring there is no hoarding and maintaining market stability. The tour would start with the Beirut markets near Camille Chamoun Sports City, then move to the markets of northern Lebanon and the Bekaa.

On Sunday, the Agriculture Ministry announced the wholesale and retail prices of some basic plant and animal products, calling on citizens not to purchase the goods at prices exceeding the specified rates.

Among the prices announced, the Ministry set the wholesale and retail prices of milk at 64,000 LL ($0.7) per kilogram and 73,000 LL ($0.8) respectively and of cucumbers at 50,000 LL ($0.56) per kg and 62,000 LL ($0.69) respectively.

In a statement, the Ministry also said on Sunday that the "high prices of some vegetables, fruits and several agricultural crops in the markets do not reflect the actual availability of agricultural products, nor are they based on production or market data that would justify such increases," in light of the unjustified rise recently recorded in the prices of some agricultural goods.

In the same statement, the Ministry explained that basic agricultural crops are available in local markets in sufficient quantities, noting that imports remain open to secure the market’s food needs during this period, ensuring stable supply and meeting consumers’ needs. It also urged consumers not to be drawn into inflated, unjustified prices and not to purchase products at prices above normal levels.