Lebanon launches training program for 2,200 farmers

Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture has launched a virtual training program targeting more than 2,200 farmers across the country, in a move aimed at bolstering the resilience of a sector battered by years of compounding economic and environmental pressures.

The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with financial support from the Government of Canada. It forms part of a broader effort to strengthen agricultural value chains, with a particular focus on Lebanon's apple and vegetable sectors, while preparing farmers ahead of the upcoming growing season.

From classroom to WhatsApp

Originally designed as a series of in-person training sessions, the program was adapted into a fully digital format to ensure broader reach and continuity amid the country's ongoing instability. Farmers will receive technical guidance directly via WhatsApp messages, complemented by interactive question-and-answer sessions.

By meeting farmers where they already communicate, the program removes barriers that might have prevented many from accessing training, whether due to displacement, insecurity, or the cost of travel. Of the 2,200-plus farmers expected to participate, 883 are women and 1,323 are men.

What farmers will learn

The curriculum covers a range of practical skills, including good agricultural practices, crop management techniques, and effective farm planning. Importantly, the program also integrates a strong gender-sensitive component, with a focus on promoting inclusivity across all aspects of agricultural work, an acknowledgment that women play a central but often underrecognized role in Lebanon's farming communities.

A sector under strain

Against this backdrop, Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani framed the initiative as part of a wider integrated response plan. "We are working to enhance farmers' resilience and support national food security while reducing sector losses," he said, adding that efforts were underway to expand interventions, sharpen targeting tools, and ensure that assistance reaches the farmers most affected across all regions.

A modest but meaningful step

The program is not a silver bullet for Lebanon's agricultural woes, but it represents a pragmatic and inclusive approach to a deeply complex problem. By digitizing knowledge delivery, the ministry and its partners are able to reach a critical mass of farmers quickly and cost-effectively, without waiting for conditions on the ground to stabilize. Such adaptability may be precisely what food security requires.