Lebanon’s producers fear the impact of a widening war, as the country remains intertwined with that of regional, even global, trade
Lebanon’s fresh produce growers appear resolute in the face of the mammoth challenges that lie ahead. Talk of a ceasefire with Israel breeds only a healthy skeptical optimism.
Of course, if the ceasefire were to hold, that could have major global ramifications given Iran’s inclusion of Lebanon in its own ceasefire terms, and its vow to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were this condition met.
But realism prevails. According to one Lebanese grower, an estimated 20 per cent of Lebanon currently stands occupied, with farms in the south ”completely bulldozed”, reducing the supply of fruit and vegetables to the local market for the foreseeable future. Prices are generally higher in Lebanon as a result, he said, but the additional hit to tourism is tough to quantify.
“We usually get 4 million tourists during the summer,” he told Fruitnet, “and they are not currently coming, so local market demand might be much lower. So far the prices of cherries and grapes are high, but we expect them to drop quickly even though there is less supply this year.”
The main season for Lebanese fruit runs from July to December, with decent yields expected this year. “We had a good amount of rain during the winter, which helps us manage our irrigation demands and secure good yields from our grape farms,” the grower said.
He also wonders if the global downturn and resultant impact on purchasing power will have a detrimental effect on demand overall this year.
“We are not sure how much demand there will be to Asian and Gulf markets as there are a lot of routes closed due to the Hormuz crisis,” he said. “We hope that we will be able to send our fruit by truck and not just have to rely on seafreight for the Middle East. We want to maintain our presence in Asia, even though the market is generally slow and returns are currently low.”
To achieve their export goals, Lebanese companies are of course reliant on the country’s infrastructure, from farm to port, remaining intact.
“If more highways or the port are damaged, it would be almost impossible to send any Lebanese produce abroad,” one exporter said. “Then market prices would certainly crash. We hope that won’t happen. Currently we have no stability, but we hope there will be a lasting and meaningful peace.”
A tentative ceasefire would certainly bring some respite to those directly affected, but continued Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon may mean a return to stability, both regionally and globally, remains out of reach.
