FAO Approves Emergency Support to Aid Lebanese Farmers Amid Crises

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture participated in the 181st session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council, held in Rome, Italy, from June 8 to 12, 2026. The delegation included the Ministry’s Director General, Engineer Louis Lahoud, and Engineer Mariam Eid, head of the Agricultural Industries Department and Lebanon’s FAO liaison officer, alongside Lebanon’s Ambassador to Italy, Carla Jazar, and Consul Mustafa Ghaith.

The session addressed a broad range of financial, regulatory, technical, and strategic issues concerning the future of agriculture and global food security. Discussions focused particularly on the escalating challenges posed by armed conflicts, climate change, and economic crises, as well as reviewing FAO’s emergency and humanitarian interventions worldwide.

During the official meetings, Engineer Louis Lahoud delivered Lebanon’s statement, conveying greetings from Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani to the Council’s presidency and member states. He outlined the current state of Lebanon’s agricultural sector and the unprecedented challenges it faces due to successive crises and Israeli attacks that caused extensive damage to agricultural lands and production infrastructure.

Lahoud reported that recent assessments revealed damage to over 22.5 percent of Lebanon’s agricultural land, equivalent to approximately 51,956 hectares. Agricultural activities ceased for around 78 percent of farmers in southern Lebanon, while displacement from affected areas reached 76.8 percent, threatening the continuity of agricultural production and exacerbating pressures on national food security.

He also noted that preliminary Integrated Food Security Phase Classification estimates for April to August 2026 indicate that about 1.24 million people in Lebanon could experience severe food insecurity due to rapidly deteriorating livelihoods and limited access to food.

The Ministry of Agriculture continues to implement a comprehensive response plan aimed at strengthening farmers’ resilience and ensuring ongoing agricultural production. This includes support for farmers in affected areas, assistance to livestock breeders, protection of the beekeeping sector, maintenance of agricultural services, and enhanced cooperation with local and international partners.

Lahoud called on FAO and member states to pay special attention to Lebanon during this critical period by increasing agricultural support and relief programs and securing the necessary financial resources to rehabilitate and develop the agricultural sector, thereby ensuring sustainable production and safeguarding food security.

He emphasized the importance of adopting Lebanon’s experience as a global case study on the destructive effects of armed conflicts on agriculture, food security, and rural development, given the extensive destruction of crops, trees, infrastructure, and livelihoods in rural Lebanese areas.

On the sidelines of the Council’s proceedings, Engineer Louis Lahoud met with FAO Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina to discuss the war’s impact on Lebanon and its direct consequences for the agricultural sector. The meeting also reviewed ongoing cooperation between the Ministry and FAO in livestock, crop, and forestry sectors, plant protection, support for small farmers, and efforts to enhance their resilience.

The discussion included follow-up on the outcomes of a recent meeting between Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani and the FAO Director-General, as well as the implementation of an agreement signed by Minister Hani and his Italian counterpart. They explored ways to expand joint programs between Lebanon and FAO and to develop technical and financial support mechanisms for Lebanon’s agricultural sector in the upcoming period, contributing to agricultural recovery and farmer resilience.

At the conclusion of the meeting, FAO’s Deputy Director-General informed the Lebanese delegation that FAO and the Italian side had approved an emergency support project dedicated to Lebanon. The project aims to assist the agricultural sector and enhance its capacity to recover amid ongoing crises and current challenges.

A direct call was made during the meeting to Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani to update him on the discussions’ results and to stress the urgency of launching the project swiftly to support Lebanese farmers and sustain agricultural production across Lebanon.

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that this development represents a positive indicator of the international community’s continued confidence in Lebanon’s agricultural sector and highlights the importance of the partnership with FAO in supporting recovery efforts, strengthening food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development in Lebanon.