A New Agricultural Season is Here!

Within the project entitled “Agriculture and Value Chain Development” which is being implemented by the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST), in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), LOST organized a meeting to gather about 100 young men and women (between 18-30 years) from the villages of Ein, Bednayel, Baalbeck, Ersal, and Hermel, with the aim of sensitizing them to the importance of agriculture.

On February 6^th, 24 beneficiaries from Baalbeck were trained on pruning apples, 12 from Bednayel on pruning grapes, and 40 from the five areas mentioned above on integrated pest and disease control on vegetables. Trainings were conducted at the community farm in Baalbeck. On February 7^th, 11 beneficiaries from Ersal were trained in pruning cherries, and 20 from Hermel to prune olives and almonds in the center of Ein. This training program will run for 3 months under the supervision of Engineer Charbel Maurice Hobeika.

Moreover, 27 vegetable farmers and 7 apple farmers attended the orientation day held by LOST on February 12^th at the community farm, where an effective discussion took place between the founder of LOST, Dr. Rami Lakkis and the farmers on agricultural problems and their solutions. Additionally, 24 vegetable farmers and 32 grape farmers attended the orientation day on February 13^th as well in Bednayel, in the presence of Dr. Lakkis.

On February 18^th, 11 apple farmers and 10 vegetables farmers discussed the requirements of farmers at LOST’s center in Ein with Dr. Rami Lakkis. Also, on February 19^th, 23 vegetable farmers and 32 cherry farmers attended the orientation day at Ersal, with the presence of effective personalities from the region (mukhtars, etc) and Dr. Lakkis, with an aim of raising awareness of modern agricultural methods and taking into account the problems experienced by farmers in the region. It is worth noting that the second agricultural season of the year 2020 has started for the crops of cherries, apples, grapes, olives, almonds, and vegetables by taking soil samples and examining them. Farmers from all regions will continue to participate in weekly training sessions.