Last summer's conflict with Israel has cost Lebanon 280 million dollars in damage and losses to its agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, according to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) damage assessment report published Monday, dpa reported. The report says Lebanese agriculture was particularly hit by the bombings, both directly and indirectly. "The biggest economic losses were attributed to the lack of access to fields during the conflict period, the peak time for the harvest of some crops (mainly stone fruit and potatoes) destined for export," an FAO statement said. "Much of this year's harvest perished on the ground, as bombing forced farmers to abandon their lands, and transport to market became impossible," the Rome-based United Nations agency added. FAO also noted that many agricultural fields and pastures had been rendered useless until unexploded bombs can be removed. Agriculture accounts for almost 70 per cent of total household income in southern Lebanon, the country's poorest and worst hit region by Israel's bombing campaign. Financial losses to the livestock sector were estimated at nearly 22 million dollars. The fisheries sector suffered nearly 10 million dollars in damages, partly because of the destruction of infrastructure and equipment in the port of Ouzaii and the loss of 328 boats.
