Agriculture & Food Security

Agriculture & Food Security

Agriculture has always been the basis of Lebanese rural communities’ culture and economy. Through various socioeconomic pressures, agriculture has suffered.

AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY

Challenges

Agriculture has always been the basis of Lebanese rural communities’ culture and economy. Through various socioeconomic pressures, agriculture has suffered.

Some of the most vulnerable groups in Lebanon are small farmers, who are impacted by climate change yet often lack access to the information, tools, and infrastructure to adapt.

Most existing programs have focused on agri-business type models, often overlooking existing small farmers, and ignoring the potential of rural Lebanese youth.

Solutions

LEAP promotes sustainable agriculture as a way to promote crop production and protect ecosystems.

Sustainable agriculture uses farming principles designed to use land responsibly, use integrated pest management practices, protect soil fertility and prevent soil erosion. This approach incorporates a range of practices such as crop rotation and well-managed grazing.

LEAP supports small farmers and other natural resource-dependent populations (shepherds, fishermen) through a variety of initiatives to improve food security, increase crop yield and provide greater economic outcomes.

Our farming vision is for rural communities to take control of their own lives, govern themselves and live in social, gender and ecological harmony while maintaining a sustainable lifestyle.

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

LEAP collaborates with local NGOs and social entrepreneurs serving rural farming communities towards realizing its vision of re-establishing people’s relationship with nature, and enhancing their land use. Program activities will be in the following areas:

Land Use

LEAP activities support adequate use of land, reduction of land overuse, prevention of overgrazing, discouraging overexploitation of natural resources including forest, fauna, and flora.

Prevention of forest fires is of increasing importance, due to global warming trends and climate change. Building community awareness about reducing wildfire risks will be emphasized.

Reforestation activities will be encouraged.

Water and Soil

Enabling communities to use water resources more efficiently is among LEAP’s primary areas of focus in agriculture —harnessing non-conventional water resources, such as rainwater harvesting, spring catchment, and wastewater reuse; introducing water-efficient crops and farming practices; and adopting improved irrigation technologies. While they are not ongoing activities, the establishment of small dirt & mud embankments and rock-filled check dams will be encouraged throughout the land in order to plug ravines, reduce water run-off and contain water in catchment areas, and reduce soil erosion.

Environmental Awareness

LEAP intends to establish “seed planting camps” where local children and youth are invited for a day to participate in seed planting camps. Various plant species will be spread during these camps for local children and youth. These camps are encouraged to be held in partnership with Agricultural Departments of different local universities, schools, and other local NGOs.