Page 35 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Libya

BELOW AVERAGE CEREAL PRODUCTION

HARVESTED IN 2020

Planting of the 2021 winter grain
crops is about to commence and will Production (tonnes) of some livestock products in Libya (2017-2018)
continue until mid November. The actual
beginning of the planting depends Item 2017 Flag 2018 Flag
on the level of soil moisture. Seasonal Eggs, hen, in shell 72950 F 72664 Im
rains started on time in September.
However, continued military operations, Honey, natural 800 F 800 F
particularly around Tripoli, are limiting Meat, camel 5998 Im 6134 Im
farmers’ access to their fields. Farmers
also report that power cuts, insecurity Meat, cattle 9652 Im 9801 Im
as well as expensive inputs, including Meat, chicken 127593 Im 128782 Im
seeds, water, fuel, tools and machinery, Meat, goat 13044 Im 13081 Im
continue to constrain their ability to
produce. Restrictions on movement Meat, sheep 33438 Im 33742 Im
reportedly restricted access of Milk, whole fresh cow 143028 Im 145564 Im
intermediaries to the farms, resulting in
depressed farm gate prices and lower Milk, whole fresh goat 18400 F 20657 Im
farm income. Skins, goat, fresh 1449 Im 1453 Im
Environmental constraints limit the
development of agriculture in the F, FAO estimate Source: FAO Statistical Division 2019
country. About 1.8 million hectares (out Im, FAO data based on imputation methodology
of 15.4 million) are arable, out of which
300 000 hectares are covered by fruit
and olive trees. Out of 470 000 hectares
suitable for irrigation, only some 240
000 hectares are currently irrigated
due to concerns over the depletion
of underground water. Cereals are
cultivated in the coastal regions, where
rainfed production or cropping with
supplementary irrigation is possible,
and in some arid areas in the south under
full irrigation. The most commonly grown
vegetables are tomatoes, peppers,
onions and leafy greens.
Although agriculture contributed less AN ACTION PLAN TO DEVELOP Organic Agriculture, the National Center
for Standards and Standards and the
than 3 percent to the Gross Domestic Fezzan Cooperative Society for Organic
Production in 2011 (last information THE AGRICULTURAL, LIVESTOCK Agriculture.In this meeting, a discussion
available), over one fifth of the was made on the mechanisms of
population is engaged in agricultural AND MARINE SECTORS activating this field in all its foundational
activities, often producing crops only and scientific aspects, capacity-building
for household consumption. Sheep and Within the framework of the action plan and community awareness in order for
goats dominate livestock production, for the development of the agricultural, our country to enter this field on solid
mostly in the interior of the country. livestock and marine sectors and the foundations. The results of the work of
Livestock producers complain about interest in supporting the local product, the committee in charge of developing
the lack of veterinary services, vaccines in particular the production of olive oil legislation and standard specifications
and medicine as well as the high costs of and dates, and within the framework for organic agriculture, which works at
feed and fodder. the National Center for Standards and
of cooperation with civil society and in this Framework A technical team has
Cereal crop production in 2020 is specialized cooperatives, and in view of been assigned to prepare a proposal
estimated at 209 000 tonnes, about 5 the local and international importance and a general concept to be presented
percent less than in the previous year of the orientation to organic agriculture at a subsequent meeting.
and about 12 percent below the average. on the health of the land, plants, animals,
The country relies heavily on imports people, biodiversity for the environment
(up to 90 percent) to cover its cereal and sustainable development at the
consumption requirements (mostly headquarters The Ministry’s office met
wheat and barley). Thus, changes in the today, the Minister of Agriculture and
domestic cereal production have very Livestock, Mr. Abdul Basit Al-Ghunaimi,
little impact on the magnitude of the with a scientific team representing
import requirement. the Coordination of Transformation to

Arab Agriculture 2021 33

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