Under the Patronage and in the presence of H.E the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Abbas Al Hajj Hassan, and the FAO Representative in Lebanon, Nora Ourabah Haddad, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Lebanon (FAO) organized the National Stakeholder Validation Workshop on the Upgrading of Lebanon’s Chickpea Value Chain.

This workshop aimed at sharing the outcomes of the value chain analysis, upgrading strategy, and action plan in addition to facilitating discussions on developing a roadmap that outlines potential partnerships, resource allocation, and implementation methods related to the action plan.

This workshop falls under the framework of One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative globally in September 2021, with the aim of improving practices and investment in greening Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) and their production, storage, processing, and market. In Lebanon, the project will support the government in enhancing its understanding of the status of the value chain of chickpea and mobilizing investment.

In his speech, the Minister of agriculture mentioned that this initiative and this project have undoubtedly achieved its intended purpose and laid the first foundations for the integration and stimulation of crops that carry nutritional and productive value. The chickpea product is an essential product used in the food industry and is the daily Lebanese dish, he said.

FAO Representative in Lebanon, Nora Ourabah Haddad said: the designation of pulses, including chickpeas, among the national priorities to support Lebanese agricultural productivity to contribute to strengthening the national economy - constitutes a turning point to more efficient, comprehensive, sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems. In addition, chickpeas are an integral part of Lebanon's cultural and nutritional heritage.

FAO launched the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative globally in September 2021, with the aim of improving practices and investment in greening Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) and their production, storage, processing, and market. The OCOP in the NENA region aims at developing and upgrading the value chains of Special Agriculture Products (SAPs), prioritized by countries, and investing in greening their production, storage, processing, and market. In Lebanon, the project will support the government in enhancing its understanding of the status of the value chain of chickpea and mobilizing investment.