Legumes and grains in Lebanon: maximize domestic production and enhance strategic food security of these key dietary components.

Lebanon imports between 80% and 95% of legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans, peas), and grains (wheat and Barley), and does not have a national plan for securing a strategic reserve through domestic production, storage and supply of these primary components of the Lebanese diet; which are essential for the population food security, especially the lower income segment.

The intent of the program is to propagate food security of these strategic plant products in rural communities, while establishing a plan for progressive reduction in imports through increased domestic production in the short term, and regional collaborative projects in the long term.

Step-1

In the 2020-21 season, 260 kgs of wheat and barley were planted on four lots of land in Zawtar – Nabatiyeh, totaling 7600 m2. The crop has been collected and pure seeds of the 3 wheat varieties (dorum red, dorum white, and soft) and one barley variety were harvested and the entire crop was purchased from the farmer.

Step-2

The 2020-21 season produced a crop of 2270 Kgs of the four varieties, of which 1869 Kgs (83%) have been treated for replantation in the 2021-22 season. The seeds will be replanted in 85-90 donoms in 7 different areas of Lebanon. (in North, Beqaa, and South), and projected to produce over 16,000 Kgs next year, 75% of which will be replanted.

Step-1 of the legumes component will be launched this season

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The project progress going into the 2021-22 season can be summarized as follows:

                                       Actual 2020-21 Season         Planted into 2021-22 Season

Amount Planted (Kg)                                      260                   1869 (83% of total 2021 crop)

Area Planted (or to be)- dunums                     7.6                   85  - 90              

Number of partnerships                                    0                      6                     

Geographic Areas *                                            1                      7

Number of farmers                                            1                      9

Projected Crop (based on 2021 average)                               18,040 Kg

                                                                                    (75% to be re-planted in the 2022-23 season)

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* Areas: Nabatiyeh, Khiyam, Hasbaya, Ein Ebel, Wazzani, Baalbak, Dhaniyeh

** Other plantation activity: (Areas: Rashaya, KfarShouba, Souk Elkhan)

- Chickpeas - 3 varieties:     130 Kgs / 9 dunums

- Mixed lentil for forage:     150 Kgs / 12 dunums

- Mixed wheat for forage:   180 Kgs / 8 dunums

Next Steps

Algorithmic expansion of area planted and number of farmers involved in the program, while building infrastructure capacity along the way.