Pubdate: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 Source: The Daily Star (Lebanon) Contact: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/ Forum: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/post/ Author: Morshed Dandash ,Daily Star correspondent NEW PLANTS BEAT THE DRUG HABIT Capers, Walnuts And Hazelnuts Are Some Of New Cash Crops Displacing Cannabis The United Nations' office in Baalbek for promoting alternative crops may have closed its doors, but efforts to carry on the fight against drug cultivation are continuing with the help of the Internal Security Forces and a local agricultural expert. An office for promoting substitutes to drug cultivation has begun the free distribution of 15,000 imported pistachio saplings from Syria to revive agriculture in Baalbek-Hermel. The office is expecting to receive other types of saplings from different countries every week until next March, amounting to about 500,000 saplings. The distribution is part of a high profitability agro-industrial project which was started last December by renowned agricultural expert Hassan Makhlouf, with participation by volunteers and the Internal Security Forces. Due to the successful experiences with 80 farmers last year, saffron will also be planted on a 500,000 square meter plot in the region. The initiative is based on studies that stress the profitability of saffron, which sells for between $8,000 and $10,000 per kilogram. The country will also receive over 1 million hazelnut saplings, as well as paulownia, moringa, yuyule, niim and chestnut saplings from Syria, Bulgaria, Italy and France. Last year, caper, walnut, hazelnut, jojoba and saffron saplings were distributed. Paulownia trees produce a very high quality wood, which sells at between $1,500 and $2,000 per meter while moringa is used for the extraction of substances used in medicines. Natural rubber is extracted from yuyule, and substances used in the production of toothpaste can be found in niim. Syria has also offered free technical assistance by training over 75 farmers in June and July of this year. Recently, the United States offered to provide the project with a nursery and help from several US-based development organizations. The ISF unofficially tasked Makhlouf, through Drug Prevention Department head Colonel Sami Daher, with directing the project in the area as a substitute to cannabis cultivation, which was widespread throughout the Baalbek-Hermel region. Makhlouf, who is also the office's director, said that if the project goes ahead as planned, it is expected to raise up to $200 million in the areas' annual revenues. These include Baalbek-Hermel, Akkar and the South, although most of the office's activities will be centered in Baalbek-Hermel. Makhlouf is receiving a LL2 million monthly allocation from the ISF. Farmers are hoping that the new substitute cultures will boost agriculture in the area. According to Makhlouf, such substitutes will improve the farmers' socio-economic conditions and allow them to work on their land. He said the office aspired to become a "public institution" that would increase the spread of such crops andensure free distribution of saplings within a studied plan for each area. "The $25 million project, which will extend over 10 years, will cover 400 million square meters," he said. Makhlouf, who is an agricultural engineer with two doctorates in substitute cultures, also said 15,000 farmers from the Baalbek-Hermel area submitted applications to receive saplings from the varieties offered. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri also promised to turn the project into a public institution. A delegation of farmers from the Baalbek-Hermel region, headed by Makhlouf, visited Hariri in October to inform him about the project. Makhlouf completed his studies in France and returned to Lebanon in 1996. He is planning to execute a project to help his region find a profitable and effective substitute to the "black money" made from growing cannabis. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry F