$4 million-loan for agricultural development

Project to boost capacities of smallholders in hilly regions

Parliament ratified in March a loan agreement signed with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for funding an agricultural infrastructure development project. The government signed the agreement in June 2010.

According to the agreement, IFAD will provide the government with a loan earmarked for the Hilly Areas Sustainable Agriculture Development (HASAD) project. The loan amount is around $4 million. According to the agreement, the government will offer a contribution worth $300,000.

The project will target smallholders of various hilly regions and communities directly or indirectly affected by the July 2006 war. The project will focus on the areas of Akkar-Dennieh, Baalbeck-Hermel, Southern Litani, and Mount Lebanon. The Ministry of Agriculture will establish regional committees in each of the areas in order to coordinate the project activities in their respective regions.

The project consists of two main components, water and soil conservation development, and technical assistance to farmers. The project will also see the establishment of at least three farmer service centers which will provide services such as storage facilities, packaging, and marketing activities. The centers will also support farmers in improving their water management and production practices through adopting new techniques.

By Hanadi Chami