Hajj Hassan: FAO provided Lebanon with $17 million after 2006 Zionist aggression

Commenting on the ongoing reconciliations and openness taking place between the various movements, such as what happened yesterday between the President of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) General Michel Aoun and Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblatt, the Minister of Agriculture Hussein Hajj Hassan said: "Disagreement is the exception to the rule and reconciliation is the norm, hence we are back to base."

Hajj Hassan considered the main issue and impediment facing the Ministry of Agriculture today is political decision as it enters every detail, starting from laws, legislation and budget, through to the required human cadres. He also drew attention to a meeting he had held yesterday of all the ministry's teams, it focused on weighing the existing shortage and stressed that when political decisions are made, all necessary supplies are provided.

He added: "The budget is also viewed in the framework of political decision, and the Ministry's budge before me for this year is at no more than 4/1000 per thousand of the total state budget; work cannot be done within such budget, hence it must be increased in cooperation with the State."

The Minister of Agriculture pointed out that shortly after arriving in Italy he met the officials in charge of "FAO" and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to provide assistance for the advancement of the agricultural sector in Lebanon. FAO had provided US$17 million to Lebanon after the Zionist aggression in 2006.

Minister Hajj Hassan emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture has set down a particular strategy as basis for work, based on giving guidance, training, inspection and funding or small micro-finance loans. This strategy is also based on bringing legislation up to date to facilitate reaching key objectives of reducing production cost and raising efficiency and improving quality and variety.