FAO and World Bank looking to aid farmers

$30 million for reforestation, hill lakes,
and irrigation networks

The Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are in the process of studying the Sustainable Agricultural Livelihoods in Marginal Areas (SALMA) project.

The cost of the project will reach $32 million, $7 million of which to be paid through a grant, and $20 million to be paid over five years by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

The project aims to expand access by small farmers to supplementary irrigation and to increase protection of agricultural lands from soil erosion in targeted remote, hilly areas.

The MoA said that the project still requires a lot of study, and it should be approved by the Council of Ministers.

The objective of the project will be to store water from seasonal springs and run-offs by constructing hill lakes, and installing modern irrigation networks for fruit trees and vegetables.
The project will support reforestation to enhance watershed management. It will also construct agricultural roads to facilitate access to remote lands. Technical assistance and capacity enhancement will be provided by FAO to MoA to better target its activities.

The project’s geographical coverage will include Akkar-Danniyeh, Baalbek, Hermel, and South Lebanon. Other geographic areas would be considered to maintain inter-regional balance.