Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received on Wednesday morning, at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain El-Tineh, the Chairman and Director General of the Régie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs (Regie), Engineer Nassif Seklaoui, accompanied by members of the Board of Directors, Engineer Georges Hobeika, Dr. Issam Salman, Dr. Mazen Abboud, and Engineer Imad Bassat.
Following the meeting, Seklaoui said: “As we approach the collection of whatever tobacco crops farmers were able to produce, we came to seek the guidance and directives of Speaker Berri, who has always been, and continues to be, the primary supporter and patron of the tobacco farming community.”
He added: “The reality is that our farmers have been struck by a tragedy. The Israeli aggression forced thousands of farmers to flee their villages and towns, including Aita Al-Shaab, Aitaroun, Mays Al-Jabal, Touline, Al-Sawwaneh, Hadatha, Kfar Tebnit, and many others that constitute key agricultural areas.”
He noted that 38 tobacco farmers were killed as a result of the aggression.
Seklaoui explained that “more than 80% of the crop was not planted, while the remaining cultivated areas were limited, in addition to the town of Rmeish, where farmers continued planting despite the siege.”
He continued: “Although the aggression also affected the Bekaa, farmers there were able to cultivate their crops, and we expect a nearly full season. As for Akkar, which was spared from the aggression, we expect a full season.”
Seklaoui paid tribute to “the heroic resilience of the farmers and their steadfast attachment to their land,” noting that farmer Ali Fadl Deeb from the town of Shhour was killed while working on his land.
He concluded: “In line with our national and social responsibility, and under the guidance of Speaker Berri, we will do everything within our means to support both those who were able to plant and those who were unable to do so.”