Ministry of Agriculture Launches Roadmap to Implement the National Strategy 2026-2035

The Ministry of Agriculture organized an expanded national retreat titled "Enhancing Coordination and Launching Action Plans," under the patronage and presence of Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani, at the Rabweh Hotel, with the participation of directors, heads of departments, official agricultural centers, and directors of technical agricultural schools, in a meeting that "constituted a pivotal station for redefining the priorities of the agricultural sector and enhancing institutional and integrative work within the ministry.

The retreat formed a national platform to launch an executive roadmap for implementing the National Agriculture Strategy 2026 – 2035, by unifying the vision among the various units of the ministry, enhancing coordination between central and regional administrations, and setting practical priorities for the next phase based on food security, rural development, environmental sustainability, agricultural digital transformation, and developing agricultural production according to modern scientific approaches.

The Director General of Agriculture, Louis Lahoud, thanked Hani for "his patronage and hosting of this comprehensive national meeting," and also thanked those responsible for hosting the activity at the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate, praising "the importance of this comprehensive national space that encourages organizing more institutional and dialogue activities."

He addressed the ministry's employees in various regions, units, and centers, praising "their steadfastness and resilience in performing their duties despite the difficult health, economic, social, and security conditions that Lebanon has experienced over the past years," affirming that "the Ministry of Agriculture continued its work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and the wars that Lebanon witnessed in 2024 and 2026, reflecting a high national sense and exceptional commitment from its cadres."

Lahoud emphasized "his pride in the employees of the General Directorate of Agriculture," calling for "continuing with the same determination, and enhancing field initiatives, inspection, follow-up, and implementation of assigned tasks, to ensure the sustainability of the ministry's work and the success of its programs."

He then presented a set of executive directives and practical priorities for the next phase, summarized as: enhancing the work of technical teams for inspecting plant and animal food factories, shops selling agricultural medicines and fertilizers, cattle, sheep, and poultry farms, slaughterhouses and cold storage facilities; activating the work of sectoral committees to enhance communication between official administrations, universities, and the private sector; continuing to organize national agricultural days in various Lebanese regions; in addition to intensifying forest guard campaigns to control forest and marine fishing violations; continuing agricultural extension and awareness campaigns; encouraging farmers to register in the farmers' register; and activating agricultural education and official technical agricultural schools.

In the opening session, a report on the achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture was presented by the Minister's Advisor, Sawsan Bou Fakhr El-Din, which included the most prominent programs, initiatives, and projects implemented by the ministry during the past period, especially in the areas of food security, support for farmers, agricultural control, agricultural extension, protection of forest and animal wealth, and international cooperation.

For his part, Hani indicated that "this national retreat is not just an administrative meeting, but a strategic space to rebuild the culture of institutional work within the Ministry of Agriculture, and to enhance coordination and integration between the various directorates, departments, and agricultural centers spread across all Lebanese territories, thereby consolidating the concept of modern agricultural administration based on collective work, scientific planning, and effective field response," considering that "the accelerating challenges facing Lebanon and the region, from climate change, food and economic crises, and pressures on natural resources, impose a new approach to the agricultural sector based on knowledge, innovation, and sustainability," adding that "agriculture is no longer a traditional sector, but has become a fundamental pillar for food security, national sovereignty, and social and economic stability."

He praised "the role played by the ministry's employees, directors, and heads of agricultural departments and centers," noting "their steadfastness and national commitment during the most difficult stages Lebanon went through, from economic and health crises to security conditions and wars," affirming that "the continuity of the Ministry of Agriculture's work under those conditions constituted a model for a productive and resilient public administration."

Hani said: "Real investment begins with building both the individual and the institution together," stressing that "developing the agricultural sector can only be achieved by enhancing the efficiency of human resources, rebuilding the capacities of work teams, and consolidating a culture of scientific management based on planning, evaluation, follow-up, and transparency."

He pointed out that "the ministry is working on restructuring its work according to a modern reform vision based on four main strategic axes:

-Developing national agricultural databases, foremost of which is the farmers' register, allowing for the building of precise data-driven policies.

-Enhancing scientific research and agricultural studies and linking them to the needs of farmers and climate and food challenges.

-Modernizing agricultural extension and developing its technical and field tools to ensure the transfer of modern knowledge to farmers.

-Enhancing field follow-up and scientific control over various agricultural, productive, and food sectors.

He stressed "the need to restore confidence in the agricultural sector and change the stereotypical image associated with it," affirming that "agriculture is not a marginal sector or a traditional profession linked to poverty or aging, but rather an advanced economic and scientific sector that constitutes a promising space for youth, entrepreneurs, green innovation, and modern agricultural technology."

Hani explained that "agriculture today is economy, production, science, technology, and sustainability, and it is a sector capable of creating job opportunities, driving development in rural areas, and enhancing the resilience of local communities," considering that "agriculture is a sovereign sector par excellence, because it is directly linked to national food security, protection of natural resources, and enhancing social stability," calling for "raising community awareness of the importance of this sector and its pivotal role in Lebanon's economic and environmental future."

Hani concluded by stressing "the importance of accelerating administrative procedures and tenders and updating work mechanisms within the ministry, to ensure implementation effectiveness and rapid response," affirming that "the next phase will witness an enhancement of the culture of institutional work based on cooperation, coordination, specialization, and efficiency, with the aim of building a more modern and effective Ministry of Agriculture capable of keeping pace with national and global transformations."

Working Sessions

The retreat also included a second session dedicated to evaluating the achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture, existing challenges, and ways for improvement, in addition to setting priorities for the ministry's work program for the next year. Participants were distributed into six working groups that included the Director General, directors, heads of central and regional departments, heads of agricultural divisions and centers, in addition to the Education and Extension Department and directors of official technical agricultural schools. The second, third, fourth, and fifth groups each included about 35 participants from various administrative and technical units, reflecting a comprehensive participatory approach in formulating the ministry's future vision. The working groups discussed three main axes: the most prominent achievements of the ministry, the main challenges and ways to improve performance, and the priorities of the work program for the next year.

A facilitator and a rapporteur were also selected for each group to organize discussions and formulate final recommendations that will form the basis for the ministry's future action plan. Towards a more effective and modern ministry.