Strategy Advancement of the Agricultural Sector 2010-2014.

The objective of the present Strategy Advancement of the Agricultural Sector 2010-2014 is to balance development between the regions, reduce poverty and malnutrition in rural areas, and strengthen the role of women and youth in rural development. The neglect of the agriculture sector in Lebanon had resulted in increase in poverty in rural areas and internal migration which led to the emergence of poverty belts around cities and led to outward migration. Any explore for the future of the agricultural sector in Lebanon must be linked to the concept of sustainable contemporary development that affects multiple aspects beyond the economic aspects to include social and environmental proportions and requires development and coordination of the public and private institutions to make it part of the comprehensive political community.
Part II of the Strategic Plan 2010-2014 revolves around eight pillars which set forth interventions at the central and local levels, using a combination of programmes, projects and policy measures aiming at containing the cost of production and improving quality of Lebanese agricultural products. These are: i) updating the regulatory/policy framework; ii) developing the Ministry of Agriculture’s (MOA) new organigramme and improving coordination with the public, private and civil society sectors; iii) upgrading agriculture infrastructure; iv) re-activating extension services; v) enforcing control over all agriculture products and inputs; vi) developing value chains, focusing on better quality, production, marketing and export of agricultural products; vii) establishing a credit scheme for SMEs; and viii) managing natural resources (water, forests). The new Plan represents an opportunity to support the future development of a full sector strategy, integrating a broader approach to rural development.
Part III puts forward a work plan to execute the afore-mentioned basic axis for the strategy advancement of the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the coordination and integration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Social Affairs for the roles of women and youth in rural development and programmes to combat poverty and malnutrition shall be enhanced. It is suggested that legislation should be issued to establish a National Observatory for Women in Agriculture and rural areas. The text consists of 3 Chapters as follows: Part I: Status of agricultural sector in Lebanon (I); Strategy to promote Lebanese agricultural sector (II); Action programmes for the implementation of the core issues in strategy of advancement in agricultural sector (III).