The Lebanon agriculture sector currently has not had a major impact on the Lebanese economy. Compared to other Arab countries, the proportion of arable land in this country is the highest. With a land area of around 200 thousand hectares, agriculture only contributes around 5% of Lebanon’s GDP. [1]
Several challenges certainly contribute to this small agricultural contribution. You can find an explanation of the challenges and solutions that can overcome them in the article below!
Challenges in the Lebanese Agriculture Sector
Some of the challenges that hinder farming trends in agriculture in Lebanon are:
1. Inadequate Infrastructure
One of the reasons that hinders sustainable agriculture is inadequate facilities, roads, and irrigation systems. In this way, access to agricultural management will be difficult for farmers and related parties.
This also means there is still a lot of agricultural land in Lebanon that needs to be utilized properly.
2. Financial Limitations
Currently, access to credit and the difficulty of banks providing support to farmers make it difficult for farmers to innovate and invest.
Before the crisis, banks were keen to provide financing to farmers. However, due to the unpredictability of agricultural products and markets, banks are starting to hesitate in extending their support.
3. Supply Chain Obstacles
Currently, there is still a gap between agricultural demand and supply, and exploitation in this sector often becomes an obstacle for farmers.
This difficulty arises from a disrupted supply chain, with producers lacking trust in intermediaries, thereby impeding marketing efforts and compromising product quality.
4. Volatile Political and Regulatory Landscape
Internal and external factors on the political landscape also influence the agricultural sector in Lebanon. Regarding internal factors, several problems that often disturb Lebanon are inadequate research, lack of outreach, and political interference.
Meanwhile, external factors are due to the conflict in Syria. This conflict could cut off land routes in Lebanon. Finally, export routes to various markets in the Gulf and Iraq became blocked.
Strategy and Solutions
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a source of loans that is quite effective as a strategy and solution to overcome various challenges in agriculture in Lebanon.
Through this financing, several projects specifically help increase production, processing, and marketing for small farmers.
Some of the main activities carried out by IFAD are:
- Empowering women in village areas.
- Effective use of water and superior varieties to reduce production costs.
- Increase the added value of agriculture.
- Encourage sectors inside and outside agriculture to develop.
So, through the explanation of the Lebanon agriculture sector, it is clear that there is still hope that this field can still develop.
