FAO to launch Farm Business School

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will launch the Farm Business School (FBS) in June, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in multiple locations around the country.

The school and curriculum has been developed by FAO to help small farmers learn how to make their farming enterprises and overall operations profitable.

“FAO Lebanon has developed the program customized according to the market needs,” said Dany Lichaa El-Khoury, Project Manager at FAO.

The school is an opportunity for farmers to improve their capacities and management skills and make a profitable business out of farming. “Technical knowhow is not enough, and in order to be competitive farmers have to adapt their farm business to market changes, and improve efficiency, profitability, and income,” said Lichaa El-Khoury.

The learning sessions will take place at the village level across the country. There will be around ten schools in several regions including Aitaroun, Marwahin, Bodai, Bireh, Bhamdoun, Karm Chbat, Rachia, Ferzol, and Baakline.

The FAO has completed the training of a team of 25 employees from the MoA to guide the farmers. Farmers will work in small groups at their own pace using the curriculum and materials that have been specially designed for the schools.

The curriculum includes up to 25 courses, each of which takes between two and four hours.

The training program consists of an exercise book for farmers, and a facilitator manual which is a guideline used by trainers for the delivery of the exercises. It also includes a farm record book for farmers to register all the agriculture transactions made on the farm. “The learning sessions will be a platform for farmers to exchange information and expertise,” said Lichaa El-Khoury.

The FBS is part of FAO’s Promotion of Agricultural Livelihoods and Employment through Investment in Land Reclamation and Water Reservoirs program which is valued at $8.25 million.