Al-Marj – The Third Libyan Farmers Forum, organized by the General Farmers Syndicate on Saturday in Al-Marj, discussed several key issues facing the agricultural sector. The agenda included the situation of agricultural units and farms governed by Law No. 123, the provision of grains and farming equipment, the activation of the agricultural bank, and the supply of fertilizers and pesticides.
The meeting was attended by parliament member Saeed Asbaga, head of the parliamentary agricultural sector, Ali Makail Al-Khuzaali, dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Omar Al-Mukhtar University, representatives from the Agricultural Institute, as well as farmers, agribusiness owners, livestock project operators, and others interested in agriculture.
Discussions addressed challenges such as problems with agricultural land, access to production inputs, and the need to strengthen the role of institutions responsible for the sector.
In its final statement, the forum called for urgent reporting and referral of assaults against farmers and their agricultural units to the appropriate authorities and public prosecution, to ensure timely action and protection of rights.
The statement noted that judicial authorities carried out eviction operations during 2024 and 2025 to remove encroachments from farms subject to Law No. 123, before those operations were suspended due to other interventions. The forum called for reviewing the reasons for this halt and holding those responsible accountable.
The participants also urged the resumption of evictions and the return of farms to their lawful owners according to official plans and maps, as well as the uninterrupted implementation of all relevant legal procedures.
Additionally, Hashem Al-Awkli, executive director of the Al-Yusr Charitable Foundation and representative of the Libyan Center for Climate Change Research, urged farmers, specialists, and officials to participate in a national awareness campaign. The campaign aims to promote early detection and prevention of diseases affecting fruit trees in Green Mountain municipalities.
Al-Awkli explained that the campaign seeks to raise farmers’ awareness of these diseases and early detection methods. This would help curb the spread, protect agricultural production, and maintain yields. He stressed the need for cooperation among farmers, specialists, and academia, along with more field monitoring of farms to prevent and manage diseases and pests before they spread widely.
Participants emphasized the importance of resolving obstacles that hinder agricultural stability, supporting farmers to continue production, and improving agricultural services. They also called for clear mechanisms to protect agricultural land and property rights, strengthen food security, and support the national economy.