The Ministry of Agriculture revealed in its first weekly report the unprecedented damage inflicted on the agricultural sector, with approximately 46,479 hectares of farmland affected—equivalent to 22% of the country’s total cultivated areas—due to ongoing attacks. This alarming figure indicates escalating pressures that threaten national food security.
Data showed that the majority of the damage occurred in the southern and Nabatieh governorates, two of Lebanon’s key agricultural regions, where 44,297 hectares were affected, compared to only 2,181 hectares in other areas, highlighting the concentration of the crisis at the heart of national agricultural production.
The damage covered various types of agriculture, particularly fruit and olive trees, as well as protected crops (greenhouses), in addition to small and medium-sized holdings, which are most vulnerable in times of crisis.
According to a needs assessment form that included 15,025 farmers in affected areas, 76.6% of farmers were forced to leave their regions, leaving only 23.4% in their towns.
Results also showed that 48% of agricultural holdings are located in the affected southern regions.
Experts warn that this mass displacement poses a direct threat to the continuity of production and increases the risk of food insecurity, given the disruption of the agricultural cycle and loss of labor.
The impact extends beyond crops to livestock, with high mortality rates recorded: 49% in beehives and 39% in fish, alongside varying losses in cattle, sheep, and poultry.
These indicators signal serious repercussions for food supply chains, especially given the local market’s reliance on these resources as essential components of food security.
The report identified urgent needs, including immediate financial assistance, irrigation water and fuel provision, feed and veterinary care, support for transporting production to safe areas, and supplying agricultural equipment and medicines to ensure minimum continuity.
In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture announced a response plan focusing on key areas: direct support for farmers, protection of livestock, ensuring the continuity of food supply chains, market support, price monitoring, and intensified coordination with relevant authorities for ongoing needs assessment.
The Ministry reported immediate measures, including support for 1,512 farmers, assistance to approximately 2,000 families in shelters, and the relocation of 820 beehives to safe areas in cooperation with the Lebanese army.
Interventions also included speeding up administrative procedures, supporting agricultural product marketing, facilitating the import of essential materials, and enhancing market monitoring to prevent price manipulation.
Analyses indicate that the current crisis goes beyond a temporary emergency, revealing the agricultural sector’s vulnerability to shocks, the strong link between conflicts and food insecurity, and rising risks to sustainable agricultural production.
Continued displacement and livestock losses may have long-term effects on the agricultural economy and reduce national production capacity.
In light of these findings, the report called for increased direct financial support for farmers, rehabilitation of damaged lands—especially focusing on smallholders—improved water resource management, and promotion of local production as a strategic option to strengthen food security.
The report concluded by emphasizing that Lebanon’s agricultural sector is facing one of its most critical phases, where field losses intersect with economic and social challenges, requiring a comprehensive and rapid national response to ensure production continuity and protect food security during this highly sensitive period.
