FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture distributed vouchers to vulnerable small-scale farmers affected by the financial and economic crisis
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Lebanon in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture distributed vouchers to farmers for the purchase of agricultural inputs during August and October 2020. Around 1000 farming families (around 5 000 individuals) in Akkar and Baalback-Hermel benefitted from the vouchers.
These vouchers were distributed in the framework of the FAO project “Emergency livelihood support to the vulnerable small-scale farmers affected by the financial and economic crisis” funded by Belgium in collaboration with MoA. Through this project, FAO and MoA helped small farmers receive agricultural inputs and maintain their production level, targeting highly vulnerable farmers who depend on farming for their livelihoods. The activities of this project allow responding to the needs for immediate support of the agricultural sector in light of the recent economic crisis in Lebanon.
The project is a pilot activity for scaling up with possible funding from other donors. It demonstrates the operational feasibility of the voucher system within the context of Lebanon with a very well established private sector for agro-input importers/distributors throughout the country. It uses vouchers for vulnerable farmers to purchase inputs, materials and tools from a selected list of input suppliers.