Palm tree growers have called on the authorities to take needful measures to prevent a further slide in their business.
The oasis town of Waddan, known as the palm city in the southern region, produces the finest dates in the world, but dates producers complain that their products are not being sold.
With the absence of government support, farmers are encountering difficulties to market their own products. Lack of foreign labor, frequent interruption of electricity, in addition to security issues also had their burden on the palm industry in Libya.
Date producers also fear to lose the European market, which they provide annually with 30 thousand tons of dates, according to the Libyan Olive and Date Palm Agency. They warned this will have a long-term impact on the palm industry in Libya.
The farmers appealed to the competent authorities to attach importance to this issue and boost investment in this sector, which they say represents an important economic resource to the country.
