LEBANON—The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with funding from the Government of Japan, have launched a new initiative to support agricultural recovery and rural livelihoods in areas of South Lebanon affected by war.
The project, titled “Strengthening the Recovery and Resilience of Agricultural and Food Systems and Rural Livelihoods in Conflict-Affected Areas in South Lebanon,” will support approximately 230 of the most vulnerable farming households, representing around 1,150 people, across the South and Nabatieh governorates.
Beneficiaries are engaged in crop production and livestock farming, and women are expected to represent at least 30 percent of participants, including female-headed households.
The initiative is designed to address urgent needs in rural communities impacted by ongoing conflict, while also restoring food production and reinforcing local agricultural systems.
Small-scale farmers will receive targeted assistance to resume agricultural activities and protect both production capacity and livestock assets.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani said the project comes at a critical moment for the agricultural sector in southern Lebanon, where conflict-related pressures intersect with economic and climate challenges.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to rebuild resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, moving from emergency response toward long-term recovery.
He also highlighted the importance of improving value chains, natural resource management, and agricultural innovation, as well as empowering rural women as key actors in food systems.
At a time when southern Lebanon’s rural communities continue to face overlapping economic pressures, climate-related challenges, and the impacts of ongoing instability, the initiative is expected to provide timely support that helps safeguard livelihoods and restore agricultural production.
