Alors que le secteur agricole libanais est fortement touché par la crise économique actuelle, il est devenu de plus en plus difficile pour les agriculteurs de maintenir leurs productions.
Le faible pouvoir d’achat et l’inflation, en plus de l’augmentation des coûts du carburant, ont entraîné la réduction des surfaces cultivées de 20 à 30 % en plus du passage de productions protégées au plein champ, et l’utilisation de produits de moindre qualité (semences, engrais, pesticides …).
An important aspect that many miss when opting for alternative non-certified seeds is that these products which are non-certified in accordance to the highest quality standards (ISTA, NAL…) present a myriad of issues when planted such as;
- Low germination rate
- Bad purity
- Low commercial value of the crop (due to High disease infection, weed invasion, poor resistance to climatic conditions, bad fruit quality, low yield …
Therefore, and by saving on the seed costs, farmers would be not only jeopardizing the work of a full season but also inducing lower income.
This is why it is crucial to ensure a stable supply of superior seeds varieties from a trustful company and suppliers. These varieties that have been tested and trialed under local conditions can offer improved yield and quality, reliability, and disease resistance.
What to look for when buying seeds?
To safeguard your production, making sure that your seeds have are properly labeled is key. An official label should have the following information:
- Lot and batch Number
- Treatment (fungicide)
- Content (seed count and/or weight)
- Germination Rate
- Purity
- Country of origin
- Production and test date
- Supplier and distributor
Challenging times require exceptional solutions, this is why the best way to lower production costs while still getting the desired yields in terms of quality and quantity is by following the Integrated Crop Management (ICM) practices that inevitably start with the procurement of certified seeds. Stay tuned to learn more about Debbane’s road to Sustainability, and the best practices to adopt during these difficult times.