Minister of Agriculture: Agricultural Sector Losses Exceed One Billion Dollars

Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani conducted an extensive field tour covering the Nabatieh and South governorates, as part of the 'Pulse of the Land and Life' initiative launched by the ministry to revive the agricultural sector in the South and enhance the resilience of farmers, during which he inspected the damage caused by the Israeli aggression, and reviewed the needs of farmers and municipalities, affirming that 'the ministry is proceeding with implementing an integrated plan to rehabilitate the agricultural sector and restore life to the productive land.'

Minister Hani began his tour by visiting the Agriculture Department in Nabatieh, where he met with the head of the department, Engineer Hussein Al-Sakka, and ministry employees, reviewed the workflow and services provided to farmers, and listened to the most prominent challenges facing agricultural work in light of the extensive damage to agricultural lands and infrastructure.

He affirmed that 'the ministry relies on agricultural centers spread across the regions to be the first line of defense alongside farmers,' stressing 'the need to enhance their human and technical capabilities to keep pace with the recovery and reconstruction phase.'

Afterwards, the Minister of Agriculture moved to the Union of Municipalities of Al-Sharqif - Nabatieh, where he was received by the head of the union, Khaled Badreddine, mayors, and local figures, and held an extensive meeting during which developmental and agricultural priorities were presented, foremost among them rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure, supporting farmers, and strengthening the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and local authorities.

The head of the union affirmed that 'restoring stability constitutes the main entry point for the return of residents to their villages and the resumption of the economic and productive cycle,' calling for 'strengthening the presence of the state and its institutions in the affected areas.'

During the meeting, Minister Hani delivered a speech in which he stressed that 'what afflicted the South did not target stone only, but targeted the human, the land, and the components of Lebanese food security,' affirming that 'rebuilding agriculture is not merely a sectoral project, but a national project to protect the rural community and enhance the resilience of Lebanese people on their land.'

He said: 'Every tree that was burned, every field that was damaged, and every plastic house that was destroyed represents a national loss that exceeds its economic value, because it affects food security, the dignity of the farmer, and the stability of rural communities. Hence, reviving the agricultural sector constitutes a national priority, and the Ministry of Agriculture will remain by the side of farmers until the full productive capacity of the Lebanese land is restored.'

He added: 'The estimates completed in cooperation with the National Council for Scientific Research and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) showed that the aggression caused damage to more than 22.5% of Lebanese agricultural lands, equivalent to nearly 56,000 hectares, including about 52,000 hectares in the South and Nabatieh governorates, while the value of agricultural losses and damages exceeded one billion US dollars after updating technical studies.'

He affirmed that 'the ministry has moved from the damage assessment phase to the implementation of recovery programs,' pointing out that 'the priority is to return farmers to their fields and secure the means to resume production.'

He added: 'We will not be satisfied with documenting the losses, but we are working to turn them into an integrated recovery plan in partnership with international bodies and friendly countries. Our goal is to restore life to the land, ensure production sustainability, and enhance farmers' ability to withstand crises.'

Hani revealed the start of implementing a series of field projects including rehabilitating 1,500 plastic houses in the South and Nabatieh, and rehabilitating 50 agricultural wells and equipping them with solar energy and modern pumps, ensuring the restoration of agricultural production and improving water resource management.

The Minister of Agriculture touched on the environmental repercussions of the aggression, announcing that 'the ministry will begin a new phase of taking samples of soil, water, and plants to assess any new contamination, after previous tests showed high concentrations of glyphosate in some border areas, which necessitates continued scientific monitoring and taking necessary measures to protect the health of citizens and the safety of agricultural production.'

In the city of Tyre, Minister Hani held a meeting at the headquarters of the Union of Municipalities of Tyre with the head of the union, Professor Ali Dabouk, in the presence of MPs Ali Khreis, Inaya Ezzeddine, Ayoub Hmayed, and Hussein Jashi, in addition to representatives of the Southern Farmers Syndicate and the Fishermen's Syndicate.

The meeting addressed the reality of the agricultural and fisheries sectors, where Minister Hani listened to the most prominent challenges facing farmers and fishermen, affirming that 'the ministry is working on preparing specialized support programs for each sector, ensuring the restoration of economic activity and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of families.'

The tour also included a visit to the town of Jibsheet, known as the 'Village of Nurseries,' where Minister Hani reviewed the reality of agricultural nurseries, which are among the most prominent centers for seedling production in Lebanon, and listened to the demands of their owners and the challenges they face, especially in light of rising production costs and the repercussions of the aggression on the agricultural sector.

He affirmed that 'nurseries constitute a fundamental pillar in reforestation, land reclamation, and rehabilitation of damaged orchards programs,' stressing that 'the Ministry of Agriculture will give this sector special attention within its plans to support agricultural production, restore vegetation cover, and enhance the rural economy.'

The tour included a visit to the town of Wadi Jilo, where the Minister of Agriculture met with cattle breeders and beekeepers, and reviewed the experience that formed a national model of solidarity during the aggression period, after the town became a center for gathering cattle and protecting them from targeting, in an image that embodied the farmers' attachment to their land and their determination to continue production despite harsh conditions.

He praised the spirit of solidarity shown by the people of the region, affirming that 'these models represent the fundamental pillar for rebuilding the agricultural sector.'

Minister Hani concluded his tour in the town of Majdal Selm, where he inspected the agricultural operator center that was completely destroyed, and also visited a number of plastic houses and damaged production facilities in the area.

He affirmed that 'the massive scale of destruction will not deter the ministry from continuing work,' stressing that 'the agricultural recovery plan will continue at an accelerating pace, in cooperation with municipalities, international organizations, and partners, in order to restart agricultural facilities, compensate farmers, and restore the pulse of life to the southern villages.'

Minister Hani concluded by affirming that 'the South will remain a symbol of resilience and production, and the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to stand by farmers in every village and town, because rebuilding agriculture is the true gateway to rebuilding the human, the land, and life in Lebanon.'