LEBANON
Yaghi invests in Lebanese mushroom growing
Yaghi Group Agro Investment invests in various sectors of agriculture and horticulture in Lebanon. It has decided to branch out into setting up a number of mushroom farms, to supply the domestic market and
neighbouring countries with fresh mushrooms. By Erik Polman, DLV Plant Mushrooms,
e.polman@dlvplant.nl
I
n Ajaltoun, a town in a mountainous region of Lebanon, Dib Hobeika and his wife Rita own a newly-built farm with three growing rooms of 250 m2
surface
area. The initiator behind the project, George Yaghi, brought him into contact with the Yaghi Group and propelled his life in a new direction. As a condition is the presence of a large enough local market to sell the mushrooms, he decided to take the plunge and make the considerable investment involved in becoming a mushroom grower. Within the Yaghi Group, it is possible to become the manager or owner of a farm. Three years ago, George Yaghi came to the Netherlands to attend a course at the former C point. He was inspired by the wonderful product mushrooms and met possible suppliers of raw materials, machinery and climate computers. A little later, following a number of visits, the choice fell on a turn-key project realised
by Christiaens Group, with phase III compost from Hooymans Compost and casing soil from Topterra Holland. Producing raw materials in Lebanon is out of the question, and using local building contractors was risky due to their lim- ited specialist knowledge. Instead, a marvellous new farm designed along Dutch lines has risen in Lebanon. The only aspect of the business that is not new is some machines.
Dutch infl uence
As there is a lack of technical cultivation expertise, I was on hand during the first week of harvesting to advise the owner and employees about growing, picking and hygiene. Operating the machinery and climate computer was also explained. In collaboration with Christiaens Group, the computer was fine-tuned and a number of practical matters were pointed out for improvement, or solved immediately. Johan
Dib Hobeika’s farm in Ajaltoun.
Ruffl ing and applying CAC in the room.
28 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
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