BEIRUT: The inadequate use of chemical pesticides in spraying fruits and vegetables is affecting the agricultural exports and the consumption of these products in Lebanon said Zouhair Berro, head of consumers’ protection association on Friday. “Many countries have recently returned imported Lebanese agricultural products as a result of the government’s negligence in creating awareness and the ignorance of farmers in using these chemical products,” said Berro. 

Berro criticized the Lebanese government for its lack of support of the agricultural sector in Lebanon while only supporting a couple of other sectors. 

“A quarter of the Lebanese population make a living out of this sector, there should be an economic balance in this country and the government is responsible for the problems facing this sector today,” he said. 

“Less than two weeks ago, some of the Arab importers told us that they used to wait in line for them to buy Lebanese agricultural products but this is not the case anymore,” he added. 

His remarks came during a press conference held at the consumers’ protection association offices in Beirut to inform the public about the dangers of consuming vegetables and fruits, and the measures that should be taken by authorities to solve this issue. 

According to an economic report prepared by Bank Audi, Lebanon’s agricultural exports amounted to $69 million in the first half of 2009, up by 4.5 percent relative to the same period of 2008. 

It stated that the Lebanese agricultural sector could be well diversified, thanks to the significant differences in altitude within the country. But Lebanese farmers are slowly learning how to make use of this advantage in order to improve the quality of their output. 

The improvement in the quality of Lebanese products is very slow, which increases Lebanon’s dependency on agricultural imports. The report said this was clearly demonstrated by the fact that agricultural imports, worth $719 million in the first half of 2009, accounted for almost 10 times the value of agricultural exports during the same period. 

However, even imported products are being infected according to Berro who said that strawberry samples coming from four Arab countries were tested and they contain pesticides residues of around 46 times more than the average approved internationally, he said. He added that some of the strawberry samples available in Lebanon were tested as well and they contain six types of pesticides residues. 

The inadequate use of pesticides used in spraying agricultural products can cause a wide range of diseases ranging from cancer to other neurological and gastric disorders if not used adequately by farmers, said Berro. 

“Some of these chemicals are banned internationally but they are being smuggled to Lebanon and used by farmers,” he said. “Some kinds of chemicals may be used but in the right way and before the expiry date printed on the box.” 

Berro criticized the Parliament for not ratifying a law for the protection of food noting that a draft of the law has been there for 5 years. 

“This goes the same regarding the law for regulating the sale of agricultural pesticides where the draft has been present in the Parliament for three years without any serious work for ratifying the law,” he said. 

He also criticized the absence of agricultural advisers which lead farmers to acquire their knowledge from companies that might supply them with misleading information. “We made a deal with the Agricultur Ministry of for training around 50 advisers but this is going to take time,” he said.