The cultivated lands in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon constitute an agricultural hub. (Credit: João Sousa/L’Orient-Le Jour)
The agriculture ministry, with the economy ministry, inspected wholesale produce markets and storage warehouses Monday to check quantities, quality, and prices as the Hezbollah-Israel conflict in Lebanon enters its second week.
The agriculture ministry said Sunday that the high prices of certain vegetables, fruits and agricultural products in the markets are not justified.
The aim of this visit was to ensure that there is no hoarding (intended to create artificial price hikes) and to take necessary measures to maintain market stability.
he representatives from the ministries first visited the Beirut fruit and vegetable market, located near the Camille Chamoun Sports City, then went to markets in North 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 these products at prices above the indicated rates.
Among the announced rates, the ministry set the wholesale and retail prices of milk at 64,000 LL ($0.70) and 73,000 LL ($0.80) per kilogram, respectively, and cucumbers at 50,000 LL ($0.56) and 62,000 LL ($0.69) per kilogram, respectively.
In a statement issued Sunday, the ministry also said, "the high prices of certain vegetables and fruits in the markets do not reflect the actual availability of these agricultural products and are not based on production or market data that would justify such increases," given the recent unjustified price hikes of some agricultural products.
The ministry sought to reassure, explaining that basic agricultural crops are available in sufficient quantities in local markets, emphasizing that imports remain open to guarantee the market's food needs during this period, ensure a stable supply and meet consumer needs.
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