Markets sought for apples, grapes

Government officials on September 29 visited Prime Minister Rafik Hariri for assurances that markets for apples and grapes will be found before the crops rot.

Western Bekaa MP Robert Ghanem encouraged Hariri and Agriculture Minister Shawki Fakhoury to make the necessary arrangements before the end of the season. "We call on the government to establish an institution to market our agricultural produce," he said.

Akkar MP Wajih Baarini said he discussed with Hariri the "catastrophe the farmers face." He said the government should buy this year's apple crop and then market it abroad.