The agony of Lebanese agriculture : between collapse and the absence of a sustainable model

By failing to properly value Lebanon’s diverse resources, the elites have never managed to build a sustainable development model for the country, especially for the agricultural sector, and to ensure its food security. Since October 2019, the country has faced multiple unprecedented crises (political, financial, economic, health, security) that require decisions the political class seems unable to make. This crisis of politics has led to economic collapse and to a deep crisis in natural resources and their use in agricultural production, reinforcing the dualism between subsistence farming and innovative agriculture. While the consequences for producers are still difficult to quantify, their impoverishment is certain in a context of hyperinflation and the devaluation of the Lebanese pound. Without a long-term strategic vision, the agricultural sector will stay uncompetitive and deeply marked by structural dualism and the deterioration of the country’s natural resources. It struggles to survive, further exacerbating Lebanon’s food insecurity against a backdrop of regional conflict.