Lebanon’s agricultural sector has faced many challenges in recent years. The economic collapse, soaring inflation, currency depreciation, and rising poverty have created immense pressure on both households and producers. Farmers have struggled with increasing production costs, limited access to quality inputs, market disruptions, and declining profitability. Yet, agriculture continues to serve as a critical pillar for resilience and recovery in Lebanon.
Against this backdrop, the RELEAF project funded by DROSOS Foundation in Switzerland, has continued its mission to empower farmers, strengthen rural communities, and enhance the efficiency of the legume value chain in North and Mount Lebanon.
- Strengthening Rural Livelihoods
Over the past three years, RELEAF has focused on building capacity and creating opportunities for small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses engaged in the legume sector. The project directly targets 100 farmers and producers, along with 10 cooperatives, SMEs, and start-ups involved in the value chain.
The team has been working to ensure that farmers not only improve their productivity and crop quality but also gain the business and technical skills needed to thrive in Lebanon’s challenging market conditions.
- What we’ve been doing
ESDU’s recent activities have centered on the following key areas:
- Mapping and assessment: conduct thorough analysis of the legumes value chain and existing development initiatives to identify gaps and opportunities and assessing the project’s activities impacts on the beneficiaries.
- Technical training: provide farmers and producers with hands-on workshops to improve cultivation practices, post-harvesting handling, and others.
- Capacity-building programs: support farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses to strengthen organizational skills and operational efficiency.
- Business development and mentorship: offering tailored guidance to farmers and SMEs to enhance market readiness and business planning.
- Market linkages and networking: facilitating connections between producers, buyers, and other stakeholders to expand access to income-generating opportunities.
- Achievements and early impacts
Based on the project’s activities, RELEAF has already started to generate tangible results:
- Farmers and producers now have a better understanding of the legumes value chain and the support interventions available to them.
- Technical and business capacities of participants have been enhanced, enabling them to adopt improved practices.
- Productivity and quality of legume production have shown early improvements, creating stronger commercial prospects.
- Cooperatives, SMEs, and start-ups are becoming more resilient and better organized
- Participants have gained improved access to markets, increasing their ability to generate income and sustain their operations.
Looking ahead
As RELEAF moves toward its final phase, the focus is on consolidating lessons learned, expanding networks, and supporting farmers in translating training and guidance into real-world results. The project team continues closely to work with local producers to ensure that interventions are not only sustainable but also scalable across Lebanon’s legume sector.
Through collaboration, innovation, and active community engagement, RELEAF is cultivating a future where rural livelihoods flourish, local food systems are strengthened, and agricultural enterprises contribute meaningfully to a more resilient Lebanon.
Mireille Zeineldine