Agriculture Minister: Sector losses exceed $1 billion, with a plan to revive the South and restore production

Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani announced that the losses and damage inflicted on لبنان’s agricultural sector as a result of the Israeli aggression have exceeded $1 billion, stressing that the ministry has moved from the stage of assessing the damage to implementing a comprehensive recovery plan and rehabilitating agricultural lands and production facilities.

Hani made the remarks during a field tour that included the governorates of Nabatieh and South Lebanon as part of the “Pulse of the Land and Life” initiative, where he inspected the damage and met with farmers, municipalities, and local stakeholders. He stressed that rebuilding agriculture represents a fundamental gateway to rebuilding people, land, and life in Lebanon.

He explained that technical studies, carried out in cooperation with the National Council for Scientific Research and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), showed that more than 56,000 hectares of agricultural land had been damaged, including around 52,000 hectares in the governorates of South Lebanon and Nabatieh.

The minister revealed the launch of field projects that include rehabilitating 1,500 greenhouses and maintaining 50 agricultural wells while equipping them with solar power, alongside implementing programs to support farmers, restore agricultural activity, and strengthen food security.

Hani noted that the ministry will begin a new phase of testing soil, water, and plant samples to monitor any potential environmental contamination, after high concentrations of glyphosate were recorded in some border areas. He affirmed that work will continue with local and international partners to revive the agricultural sector and strengthen the resilience of farmers in the affected areas.