Ministry of Agriculture Strategy 2015-2019.
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The Ministry of Agriculture Strategy is a strategic document covering the period 2015-2019 and aiming at improving the performance of the agricultural sector to contribute to the economic, social, environmental and sustainable rural development of Lebanon.
The general objective of the strategy is to develop the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture in order to overcome challenges in the agricultural sector and respond to crises that may arise through partnerships and collaboration among relevant stakeholders. These three specific objectives are pursued: (i) to provide safe and quality food; (ii) to improve the contribution of agriculture to the economic and social development of the country; (iii) to promote the sustainable management of natural and genetic resources.
In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the strategy aims at modernizing the irrigation system in Lebanon and promoting the use of alternative sources of water and energy in agriculture. These measures include increasing irrigation water storage quantity and improving its distribution, using new technologies and raising the irrigation efficiency at farm level, activating the use of treated wastewater in agriculture. In addition, the Government plans to develop and strengthen capacities of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute laboratories by implementing the following activities: (i) development of food safety laboratories and cooperation with accredited laboratories; (ii) development of agricultural inputs related to laboratories and establishment of new ones; (iii) development of plant health laboratories; (iv) improving the control tests of veterinary drugs; (v) activating the forage laboratory; (vi) strengthening the existing laboratories and establishing new labs for honey testing; and (vii) development of animal health laboratories. Moreover the Government will improve the conservation of biodiversity and genetic resources through: (i) studying the biodiversity in unprotected ecosystems, (ii) strengthening research on biodiversity and plant genetic resources by assessing the plant genetic resources for food and agriculture including the local varieties and wild parents that grow in the different Lebanese regions, (iii) conserving them in the national seed bank, (iv) building the capacities for the regeneration of conserved seeds, (v) the conservation and production of seedlings of wild fruit trees and promoting their cultivation.
To enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, three areas of intervention are identified: (i) provision of safe and quality food from imports; (ii) provision of safe and quality food from domestic production by ensuring sufficient food supply of locally produced food and the development of food safety systems; (iii) contribution to the formulation of a food safety policy. In addition, nine areas of intervention were identified in order to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Lebanese agricultural products. These areas embrace improving the value chains and increasing the added value for products of animal and plant origin, strengthening phytosanitary measures, increasing agricultural exports and enhancing domestic marketing channels, developing national plans for the conservation and expansion of agriculture and irrigated areas (in particular for the high-demand crops and varieties in the international markets), improving the legal status of farmers and their organizations through the preparation and enactment of a law.
Regarding the reduction of rural poverty, the Government will provide support to small-scale farmers and producers, and will encourage rural youth and rural women to engage in agriculture-related investments.
The Ministry of Agriculture opted for the introduction of “Responding to climate change impacts” as one of the central courses of action for the next five years. MoA plans to assist the agricultural sector in many areas of intervention to better adapt to the impacts of climate change and to reduce its emissions, mainstream MoA activities related to climate change, introduce the adaptation measures through the various implemented programmes, and conduct a study to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, land use changes and forestry. Strengthening MoA capacities in disaster and crises management in agriculture through elaborating a national response plan, and creating a Disaster and Crises Management Unit was identified as an area of intervention for the development of the Ministry of Agriculture's capacities.
The Ministry of Agriculture is the entrusted administration for the implementation of the strategy. A Steering Committee will be established for the follow-up and supervision of the strategy implementation.
The general objective of the strategy is to develop the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture in order to overcome challenges in the agricultural sector and respond to crises that may arise through partnerships and collaboration among relevant stakeholders. These three specific objectives are pursued: (i) to provide safe and quality food; (ii) to improve the contribution of agriculture to the economic and social development of the country; (iii) to promote the sustainable management of natural and genetic resources.
In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the strategy aims at modernizing the irrigation system in Lebanon and promoting the use of alternative sources of water and energy in agriculture. These measures include increasing irrigation water storage quantity and improving its distribution, using new technologies and raising the irrigation efficiency at farm level, activating the use of treated wastewater in agriculture. In addition, the Government plans to develop and strengthen capacities of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute laboratories by implementing the following activities: (i) development of food safety laboratories and cooperation with accredited laboratories; (ii) development of agricultural inputs related to laboratories and establishment of new ones; (iii) development of plant health laboratories; (iv) improving the control tests of veterinary drugs; (v) activating the forage laboratory; (vi) strengthening the existing laboratories and establishing new labs for honey testing; and (vii) development of animal health laboratories. Moreover the Government will improve the conservation of biodiversity and genetic resources through: (i) studying the biodiversity in unprotected ecosystems, (ii) strengthening research on biodiversity and plant genetic resources by assessing the plant genetic resources for food and agriculture including the local varieties and wild parents that grow in the different Lebanese regions, (iii) conserving them in the national seed bank, (iv) building the capacities for the regeneration of conserved seeds, (v) the conservation and production of seedlings of wild fruit trees and promoting their cultivation.
To enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, three areas of intervention are identified: (i) provision of safe and quality food from imports; (ii) provision of safe and quality food from domestic production by ensuring sufficient food supply of locally produced food and the development of food safety systems; (iii) contribution to the formulation of a food safety policy. In addition, nine areas of intervention were identified in order to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Lebanese agricultural products. These areas embrace improving the value chains and increasing the added value for products of animal and plant origin, strengthening phytosanitary measures, increasing agricultural exports and enhancing domestic marketing channels, developing national plans for the conservation and expansion of agriculture and irrigated areas (in particular for the high-demand crops and varieties in the international markets), improving the legal status of farmers and their organizations through the preparation and enactment of a law.
Regarding the reduction of rural poverty, the Government will provide support to small-scale farmers and producers, and will encourage rural youth and rural women to engage in agriculture-related investments.
The Ministry of Agriculture opted for the introduction of “Responding to climate change impacts” as one of the central courses of action for the next five years. MoA plans to assist the agricultural sector in many areas of intervention to better adapt to the impacts of climate change and to reduce its emissions, mainstream MoA activities related to climate change, introduce the adaptation measures through the various implemented programmes, and conduct a study to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, land use changes and forestry. Strengthening MoA capacities in disaster and crises management in agriculture through elaborating a national response plan, and creating a Disaster and Crises Management Unit was identified as an area of intervention for the development of the Ministry of Agriculture's capacities.
The Ministry of Agriculture is the entrusted administration for the implementation of the strategy. A Steering Committee will be established for the follow-up and supervision of the strategy implementation.
Attached files
Date of text
Entry into force notes
2015-2019.
Repealed
No
Publication reference
Ministry of Agriculture.
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No