The Agricultural Sector of LebanonThe Agricultural Sector of LebanonThe Agricultural Sector of LebanonThe Agricultural Sector of Lebanon

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Beirut, Lebanon, 1 October 2013

Sustainable Development and Productivity DivisionSustainable Development and Productivity DivisionSustainable Development and Productivity DivisionSustainable Development and Productivity Division

Agriculture at a glanceLebanon ESCWA Arab region

Agricultural area % total land 39 19 24 Irrigated area % agricultural area 29 6 3 Agricultural labor % total labor 3 22 29 Population/agric labor Pop/Ag labor 115 12 9 Agricultural population % total population 2 24 30 Rural population % total population 11 45 45 Rural population % total population 11 45 45 Fertilizer Tons/ha 40 27 9 Machinery 1000/Ha 21 3 2 Agriculture production % Growth (base 1999-2001) (0.3)Food production % Growth (base 1999-2001) (0.3)Agriculture GDP % GDP 7 6 8 Agriculture GDP Per Agric Population ($) 14,867 1,101 861 Wheat Self-sufficiency ratios (%) 23 59 49

2222

Source: FAOSTAT (2010)

Main agricultural areas

• Coastal stripCoastal stripCoastal stripCoastal strip: citrus, banana

& horticulture & greenhouse

production

• AkkarAkkarAkkarAkkar plain with upper plain with upper plain with upper plain with upper

Mount LebanonMount LebanonMount LebanonMount Lebanon: cereals,

potatoes, grapes &

vegetables

• BekaaBekaaBekaaBekaa valleyvalleyvalleyvalley: potatoes,

grains, fruits & vegetables

AkkarAkkarAkkarAkkar plain &plain &plain &plain &

upper Mount upper Mount upper Mount upper Mount

LebanonLebanonLebanonLebanon

3333

grains, fruits & vegetables

• Mountainous regionMountainous regionMountainous regionMountainous region:

orchards & vegetables

• Western slope of AntiWestern slope of AntiWestern slope of AntiWestern slope of Anti----

Lebanon rangeLebanon rangeLebanon rangeLebanon range: grapes,

olives & cherries

• Southern hillsSouthern hillsSouthern hillsSouthern hills: olives,

tobacco, almonds & grains

Southern Southern Southern Southern

hillshillshillshills

Source: CDR (2005)

Water vulnerability

Year Irrigated area

(1000 ha)

Total water (Mm3/year)

2005 160 1,140

2010 190 1,280

2015 195 1,450

2020 195 1,450

4444

2025 212 1,272

2030 235 1,410

Source: CDR (2005)

Increasing water scarcity and

agriculture intensification

should lead to more demand

for irrigation

Source: CDR (2005)

Urbanization risk

• High pressure on cultivated

land

• More intensification: more

chemical use, increased

water for irrigation, etc.

• Increasing water demand to

meet water demand in the

domestic and industrial

sector. MoE estimate that

5555

sector. MoE estimate that

by 2015 a little bit more

than 30% of water will be

used for other activities

Source: UNDP/MoE (2010)

Agriculture at a glanceLebanon ESCWA Arab region

Agricultural area % total land 39 19 24 Irrigated area % agricultural area 29 6 3 Agricultural labor % total labor 3 22 29 Population/agric labor Pop/Ag labor 115 12 9 Agricultural population % total population 2 24 30 Rural population % total population 11 45 45 Rural population % total population 11 45 45 Fertilizer Tons/ha 40 27 9 Machinery 1000/Ha 21 3 2 Agriculture production % Growth (base 1999-2001) (0.3)Food production % Growth (base 1999-2001) (0.3)Agriculture GDP % GDP 7 6 8 Agriculture GDP Per Agric Population ($) 14,867 1,101 861 Wheat Self-sufficiency ratios (%) 23 59 49

6666

Source: FAOSTAT (2010)

Distribution of farms

Southern hills 22%Southern hills 22%Southern hills 22%Southern hills 22% AkkarAkkarAkkarAkkar plain &plain &plain &plain &

upper Mount upper Mount upper Mount upper Mount

Lebanon: 26%Lebanon: 26%Lebanon: 26%Lebanon: 26%

BekaaBekaaBekaaBekaa valley + valley + valley + valley +

antiantiantianti----Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon

7777

antiantiantianti----Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon

range: 43%range: 43%range: 43%range: 43%

Source: MoA et al (2012)

Farm sizes

Average Average ((avgavg) size) size: 13.6 : 13.6 dunumdunumHighest Highest avgavg BekaaBekaa: 29 : 29 dunumdunumLowest Lowest avgavg Mount Lebanon: 6.6 Mount Lebanon: 6.6 dunumdunum

e.g., Potatoes:

2% of farmers with farm size

8888

2% of farmers with farm size

> 200 dunum produce

32% of total production

Source: MoA et al (2012)

Other issues (risks)

• Age: < 35 years 11% & > 65 years: 23%

• Social security: 75% have no access

• Second income: None for about 50%

• Extension services: less than 11% receive it

but 86% get it through input providersbut 86% get it through input providers

• Cooperatives: 96% do not belong to one

• Credit: only 1% of farmers used it

• Irrigation: about 50% use some form of

irrigation

9999

Source: MoA et al (2012)

Agriculture at a glanceLebanon ESCWA Arab region

Agricultural area % total land 39 19 24 Irrigated area % agricultural area 29 6 3 Agricultural labor % total labor 3 22 29 Population/agric labor Pop/Ag labor 115 12 9 Agricultural population % total population 2 24 30 Rural population % total population 11 45 45 Rural population % total population 11 45 45 Fertilizer Tons/ha 40 27 9 Machinery 1000/Ha 21 3 2 Agriculture production % Growth (base 1999-2001) (0.3)Food production % Growth (base 1999-2001) (0.3)Agriculture GDP % GDP 7 6 8 Agriculture GDP Per Agric Population ($) 14,867 1,101 861 Wheat Self-sufficiency ratios (%) 23 59 49

10101010

Source: FAOSTAT (2010)

Agriculture value chain map

11111111

Source: ESCWA (Forthcoming)

Issues in value chains

Daman (intermediary):

• Buys entire production well before harvest

taking in charge all remaining activities until

harvest

• Farmers (mostly small holders) get low • Farmers (mostly small holders) get low

prices but are guaranteed a fixed income

and early in the season

ALTERNATIVE

• Potential of getting a higher price at the end

of the season but at with risk/uncertainty

12121212

World agricultural prices

13131313

Source: OECD/FAO (2011)

Losses & wastes

Fruits & vegetablesFruits & vegetables

14141414

Source: Adapted from Gustavsson et al (2011)

Logistic costs

15151515

Source: Adapted from World Bank & FAO (2011)

Role of government

• Setting proper laws and an adequate

environment for financing and innovation

(innovative financial products)

• Supporting farmers esp. small holders (to

access credit and other products)access credit and other products)

• Ensuring a good flow of information

(particularly towards small farmers)

• Developing & strengthening rural

infrastructures

16161616

Concluding remarks

• Impact of climate change will greatly impact

agriculture

• Investments (both from private and public

sector) are still low given the numerous

challengeschallenges

• Annual budget to agriculture: 1-3% of annual

budget

• Smallness of plots makes agriculture

unprofitable

17171717

Thank you!

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Twitter: twitter.com/#!/unescwa

18181818

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/unescwa

References

FAOSTAT. 2010. http://faostat.fao.org/site/291/default.aspx (last accessed November 2010)

OECD/FAO. 2011. OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011-2020. OECD Publishing and FAO

(http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/agr_outlook-2011-en)

CDR. 2005. National physical master plan of the Lebanese territory: Final report

(www.cdr.gov.lb/study/sdatl/English/NPMPLT-TOC.PDF )

UNDP/MoE. 2010. Climate risks, vulnerability and adaptation assessment: Final report. Chapter

2: Vulnerability and adaptation of the agriculture sector. Report prepared by ELARD for

UNDP/MoE (www.moe.gov.lb/climatechange/pdf/SNC/a-Agriculture%20sector.pdf )

MoA, FAO, Coopération Italienne. 2012. Résultats globaux du module de base du recensement de

l’agriculture 2010.

(http://www.agriculture.gov.lb/html/RESULTATS_RECENCEMENT_AGRICULTURE_2010/RAP(http://www.agriculture.gov.lb/html/RESULTATS_RECENCEMENT_AGRICULTURE_2010/RAP

PORT_RESULTATS_GLOBAUX_DU_RECENCEMENT_2010.pdf)

United Nations & GIZ. Forthcoming. Green agricultural value chains for improved livelihood in the

Arab region. ESCWA, Beirut.

Gustavsson, J., Cederberg, C., Sonesson, U., Otterdijk, R., & Meybeck, A. (2011). Global Food

Losses and Food Waste. Food and agriculture organization of the united nations.

World Bank & FAO. 2011. The grain chain: Food security and managing wheat imports in Arab

countries. Washington, DC

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