The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Wednesday that it had distributed “seeds, seedlings and fertilizers to more than 11,000 small-scale Lebanese farmers across the country.”
The donation, totaling $1.1 million, is part of the Lebanon Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) Activity. It aims to facilitate the cultivation of vegetables and legumes for consumption or sale, as stated in a USAID press release.
To date, 5,000 farmers have benefited from this support. Further distribution campaigns will be organized over the coming spring and fall, with each beneficiary receiving a personalized support program based on their farming needs, the agency noted. The support is complemented by technical training, and educational materials will also be provided to improve crop productivity and communication among farmers.
According to the press release, this initiative aims to mitigate the impact of high food costs and declining purchasing power on the Lebanese population in general, with a particular focus on rural communities.
USAID Lebanon Director Julie Southfield emphasized the agency’s commitment to “support and provide farmers with the resources they need to improve their agricultural production and strengthen their productivity, resilience, food self-sufficiency and the country’s food systems.”
