Today, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the "Farmers' Register" in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Lebanon. The event took place at the UNESCO Palace, under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, represented by Minister of Agriculture Abbas Hajj Hassan, with the attendance of FAO representative in Lebanon, Noura Ourabeh Haddad, European Union delegation head for cooperation in Lebanon, Alessandra Visser, ministers, MPs, embassy representatives, heads of chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture, representatives of economic bodies, farmer unions, media, municipal union heads, municipalities, agricultural and cooperative associations, and a large crowd of farmers.
The ministry explained that the "Farmers' Register" is a fundamental material for shaping and implementing its agricultural policy. A modern and updated information system has been developed for this purpose, focusing on inputting information about the farmer, the farm, location, area, size and type of agriculture, agricultural machinery, livestock, and details about the living conditions of the farming family and the number of workers in the farm. This will enable the drawing up of agricultural development policies and improving the agricultural sector based on accurate data and information, providing necessary services to farmers in a meaningful, effective, and transparent manner, organizing the agricultural profession, enhancing social protection for farmers and workers in this sector, and responding to shocks and disasters.
The program includes a mechanism to determine the location of the farm, its area, and the type of vegetation cover based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs. This electronic program for registering farmers is part of a project being implemented by the FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), funded by the European Union.
The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the FAO, launched a national advertising campaign calling on farmers to visit the nearest agricultural center affiliated with the ministry after making an appointment through the designated platform to register in the Farmers' Register and ensure their rights.
Minister of Agriculture stated: "In these difficult times, amid a global economic crisis and ongoing threats to food security, the Lebanese agricultural sector must adopt plans to change behaviors towards productivity capable of stabilizing farmers first, improving production and its marketing second, and delivering products at acceptable prices to consumers."
He added: "The reality of agriculture is no longer hidden from anyone. Recently, it was at the bottom of the concerns of successive governments when we lived in abundance and relied on a rentier economy that distanced us from productivity. Today, things have changed dramatically. A year and a half ago, we put an emergency plan for agricultural work in place, relying on a strategic plan developed at the ministry with the FAO's help, which includes this registry we celebrate launching today to begin the phase of integrating the agricultural sector into the era of digitization."
He continued: "Work on the Farmers' Register practically started in March 2021, with hundreds of sessions and meetings involving a large number of specialists and experts. This register comes within a project funded by the European Union and targets registering anyone engaged in agricultural work. In the first phase, it aims to reach 50,000 farmers across Lebanon. For this purpose, all 40 agricultural centers have been equipped with solar power, internet access, and printers to issue cards with a national number for each farmer to make registration easy and smooth. All staff involved in this project have also been trained."
He emphasized that "the significance of this register lies in its electronic program that includes a mechanism to determine the location of the farm or parcel of land, its area, and the type of vegetation cover, relying on cadastral maps and aerial photographs."
He announced that "registration will continue in collaboration with all national partners from ministries, municipalities, voluntary organizations, parties, unions, and various stakeholders." He said: "The registration will provide us with accurate information about every detail of the agricultural sector, cultivated areas, and types of crops, thus enabling us to determine production quantities and prepare in advance for any season, whether for marketing abroad or importing what we need and aligning needs with available capacities. This register will also enable direct and rapid communication with farmers for guidance or assistance and support targeting them."
He added: "The data and information provided by the register are exclusively for the Ministry of Agriculture. This project was a dream that began in 2010 and continued for years to reach its birth and launch today, with the participation of the European Union, FAO, and WFP. Thank you all for this tremendous effort you have contributed."
He continued: "We look forward to a partnership in registration processes and a high turnout for registration. Therefore, I invite my fellow citizens across Lebanon, from the heights of Kesrouan to the Metn, Akkar - the land of good hearts, the South - the arena of steadfastness, Bekaa - the first cradle of the nation, and Baalbek - the stronghold of agriculture, to register immediately starting tomorrow. I also invite municipalities, associations, and unions to play their supportive role in this issue, as well as political parties and influential figures in this community, to collaborate to expedite registration processes for the benefit of the entire sector."
He stated: "We are partners in shaping a new future characterized by productivity to stabilize citizens on their land, and as we believe in Lebanon's pivotal role in this region, we also believe that it is our duty to protect our food security, making it strong and solid to achieve that. We will grow our wheat to eat, as we will also expand our cultivated areas to meet our current and future needs."
He added: "The world is changing, with one primary focus for governments: achieving food security. And our focus too is unified: food security as a priority, food safety as a goal, and opening markets for our products to establish natural relationships with all countries worldwide. We emphasize that we have one enemy: Israel, as it occupies the land and rights, while the rest of the region and the world are either brothers or friends."
He continued: "From Beirut, we call for an Arab partnership towards Arab agricultural security, and through food security, we call for Arab rapprochement and integration, hoping we can achieve in agriculture what we have failed to accomplish in politics."
He concluded: "The Lord Jesus said, 'Some seeds fell on good soil and yielded much fruit.' And God says in His Holy Book, 'He produces for you the crops, olives, date palms, grapes, and all kinds of fruits. In that, there is a sign for those who reflect.'"
He wrapped up: "This is a divine call to plant and green the earth. Esteemed attendees, from the UNESCO Palace and on behalf of every Lebanese farmer, the employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and myself, I announce the commencement of registration processes throughout this country in the agricultural register. Our agriculture is our hope for our nation."
