Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani said in an interview with “Sawt Kol Lebanon”: “We had hoped that the amounts allocated to productive ministries in the budget would be better.”
However, Lebanon has entered into commitments that require the budget to be austere. For this reason, priority was given in the 2027 budget to the health sector, social affairs, and infrastructure, through the Ministry of Public Works.
He expressed hope that “larger amounts will be allocated to productive ministries in upcoming budgets.”
He affirmed that “the government is aware of the major pressure facing industry, agriculture, and all sectors due to the rise in fuel prices.”
He noted that “the Minister of Energy will present a proposal on this matter at the next session, which would help ease the burdens resulting from the rise in the price of a tank of gasoline.”
He pointed out that “yesterday’s cabinet session witnessed a lengthy discussion on this topic, during which the possibility of a progressive tax with a ceiling of 300,000 Lebanese lira was discussed.”
Regarding apples, he noted that “the Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a roadmap, and all doors are now open for Lebanese agricultural products, especially apples, and the President of the Republic is giving this file priority.”
He pointed out that he “is making rounds with agriculture ministers in various countries, as well as with importers, to encourage them to increase their imports of apples from Lebanon.”
