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The Rene Moawwad Foundation for promoting social and rural development (RMF), launched yesterday the second phase of the USAID-funded Building Alliance for Local Advancement and Investment program, BALADI. RMF CEO Michel Moawwad announced the names of the upcoming projects to be implemented by his organization in cooperation with CARITAS Lebanon. Moawwad revealed that some 42 projects have been selected from 160 local municipalities. The projects will cover the following areas: agricultural industries, irrigation canals, drinking water, rural tourism, public education, centers for entrepreneurships and vocational training, health, youth sports and social centers and solar power systems. Reportedly, about 92 municipalities and villages across Lebanon, and some 77 local NGOs, will participate in improving the living standards of some one quarter of a million of people by the completion of the program in 2017. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, December 11, 2015)

 

In its issue of yesterday, As Safir daily interviewed a number of owners of food factories in the South to shed light on this promising industry, which despite significant challenges has demonstrated excellence in the sector. Kamel Badawi Bsat factories manager, Osama Bsat, disclosed that similarly to other made-in-Lebanon products, the manufacturing of local “ta7hini” and “7halaweh” is faced with rising cost of production, labor, fuel, difficulty in securing raw material from abroad, and in getting the necessary custom clearances. As for his factory which is located in Gazieh, on the outskirts of Saida, Bsat maintained that it gained in reputation with the growing demand for its products, noting that his company has opened branches in many areas across Lebanon and is also exporting to various countries of the world. Another business owner, Othman Shama, a co-founder of Milco Company for dairy products, located east of Zahrani along the Southern Lebanon road, grieved the absence of export channels for marketing Lebanese products, despite their exceptional quality. He urged concerned government authorities to “facilitate the entry of the Lebanese products into global markets”. For her part, the administrative officer at Ringo (producer and exporter) of potato chips, Luma Ghaddar, criticized the unfavorable terms of various free trade agreements that Lebanon signed with many countries, which facilitated the imports of foreign potato chips, particularly from Saudi Arabia, and that are exempted from custom fees. (As Safir, December 9, 2015)

 

As part of the EU-funded ‘Improvement of the Living Standards of Small Farmers of Akkar’ project, Mada Association and Hrar Agricultural Center organized an extension seminar last week on conservation agriculture of apple orchards in the presence of a number of concerned farmers. Taha Mustafa, head of Hrar Center, the praised the high level of receptiveness of apple growers to similar seminars which are held by the Center adding that the latter receives many calls every day from people seeking help and information on how to tackle problems in farming. Mustafa disclosed that the total area of apple orchards is estimated at 9000 dunums and the number of farmers at 800 individual farmers. For his part, Agriculture Engineer, Nidal Meri’bi, underscored the significance of adopting new farming conservation techniques and that is for maintaining natural resources and reducing the plowing intensity in order to sustain the soil’s organic nutrients and to cut down on the cost of production. He demonstrated with the aid of examples new techniques of planting some 2 kgs of cereals and grains on a 1000 meter stretch of cultivated land by using the vegetation cover to maintain the soil’s moisture. (Al Diyar, December 9, 2015)

 

In collaboration with TUV Hellas Company, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) organized yesterday a symposium on ‘Organic Agriculture’ at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Zahleh in the presence of a number of farmers and agricultural exporters. IDAL president, Nabil Itani, confirmed the upsurge in export activity after the launch of the new maritime road, pointing that “organic agriculture has become a high priority for numerous reasons, most importantly is the fact that it reduces dependency on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.” This, Itani added, has a “positive impact on the safety of food and the health of people and the environment, as well as on all forms of life.” Nowadays, Itani went on to say: “Organic products have become an important economic element for many countries of the world, particularly amidst the increasing demand by customers for such brands”, concluding that such organic products have become a focus for strategic competition particularly since they enjoy a big profit margin. For his part, TUV Hellas General Manager, George Abi Haidar, reiterated the eco-friendly aspects of organic agriculture, and called for more awareness among producers on the importance of this new trend in national agriculture.

Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, December 9, 2015

 

Lebanon won the first prize at the Africa Industries Fair held on the first of December in Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan. The prize went to SIMA industrial company and was presented to Ali Atef Yassin, manager, from Nabatiyeh, in the presence of various local ministers, factory owners, experts, economists and industrials from around the globe. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, December 9, 2015)

 

In its issue of December 4, Al Akhbar daily newspaper highlighted the successes achieved by young men and women entrepreneurs in the promising food sector that recorded in 2014 high business results despite the harsh prevailing economic conditions. The newspaper added that the total value of this economic sector is now estimated at USD520 million, while shedding the light on a selection of new pioneering food establishment namely:

-         House of Zejd is located in Ashrafieh and owned by Yussef Fares. The company sells aside from olive oil, some 80 other products and was successful in developing good trade relations in international markets.

-         No Garlic No Onion catering portal was founded by Anthony Rahayel for promoting various traditional foods recipes in order to revive traditional rural products that do not find their way easily to local market.

-         Bibayti.com: is a novel concept applied for the first time in Lebanon and launched one month ago. The project aims to promote local professional chefs. Through browsing the website, customers can choose a particular chef and request his/her catering service in the customer’s house. The selected chef will take full charge of all procurements and tools needed for preparing the desired recipe. 

-         Atayeb el Reef is a marketing cooperative aimed at creating opportunities for women in rural areas where they can secure an income that sustains their households. The cooperative connects farmers and customers of chemical free food items. The cooperative maintain business relation with some 42 women-run coops across the country; it was kicked off with the help of USAID and the YWCA but is now fully independent business that has started exporting to the US and the Emirates. 

(Akhbar, December 4, 2015)

 

In a report portraying the Holiday seasons in the Beqaa area, As Safir daily described the prospects for tourism as good but moderate, according to current preliminary data related to the size of preparations, hotel bookings and reservations for Christmas and New Year events. Park Hotel Shtura manager, Basma Haj Musa, told the newspaper that security threats that prevalent last year are gone, pointing to the relatively good rate of hotel occupancy and confirmations for the New Year’s Eve programs. On the other hand, Norma Marjaba, manager of Zahle’s Grant Kaderi Hotel, noted that reservations were still somewhat low; hoping that Christmas decorations will attract business after long a period of uncertainty. Concerning Anjar, As Safir reported the highest rates of hotel occupancy, according to Hana Zetelyan, owner of Layali al Chams hotel and restaurant, who welcomed the present stability. (As Safir, December 8, 2015)

 

The Minister of Environment, Mohamad Mashnuk, and the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Maroti, launched last Wednesday a new project entitled: ‘Better Management of Wildlife in the Sanctuary and Development Regions for the Shuf Biosphere Reserve’. Mashnuk revealed that in Lebanon there are currently 15 natural reserves and 3 bio-reserves, in addition to several other natural attractions, stressing that the protection of natural reserves is now a national responsibility. “The Environment Ministry is currently working on increasing up to 30 the number of sanctuaries, and is collaborating to this effect with relevant committees and working teams to achieve a better management that guarantees protection of the reserves and at the same time benefits the neighbouring local communities,” Mashnuk said. Maroti, for his part, called for the development of a closer link between eco-tourism and the economy and as mean towards the promotion of knowledge and for the protection of the cultural heritage. The above project which received a funding of EURO 500 thousand from the Italian Embassy and the Italian Development Cooperation Office, aims at achieving a number of goals namely: Develop a work plan for monitoring wildlife in the designated areas, explore the feasibility of reintroducing the wild mountain goat (ibex) to the reserve, provide advanced and state of the art equipment; build the capacities of staff and partners; set up an engineering unit to organize and supervise construction works in the development area; support local municipalities; introduce eco-friendly agricultural practices that safeguard wildlife and water resources, and finally enhance the capacities of farmers, and agricultural cooperatives at all levels. (Al Mustaqbal, December 3, 2015)

 

The tobacco growers of Batrun in the North said they were grateful the prices of the new harvest season were acceptable as set by the Regie appointed price expert Ahmad Hamseh, LBP12 thousand for one kilogram, a price which has not been attained since 7 or 8 years, according to As Safir newspaper this morning. Farmers pointed out that the expected profits calculated on the basis of the new price are anticipated at 50%, as per George Antun, who stressed that the current rates will entourage tobacco growers to continue planting what has become a profitable crop.” He thanked Hamzeh for the submitting a fair assessment of the quality of production,” as he put it, adding: “It is true that farmers in the South have received a price range of LBP13 and 14 thousand per kg and that is because tobacco in that area is reputed for its excellent quality; while the price for crop grown in Baalbek, Bekaa, does not exceed LBP11 thousand,” Antun told As Safir. It should be noted, that tobacco cultivation in Batrun has preserved it traditional characteristics, as in other regions of Lebanon. The most beautiful thing about it, the newspaper concluded, is the fact that it fosters cooperation and conviviality among the Batrun families. (As Safir, December 4, 2015)

 

The USAID-funded Building Alliance for Local Advancement, Development and Investment (BALADI) program celebrated last Monday the completion of the ‘Droubna’ project for eco-tourism in the Matn village of Khinshara and the surrounding area which is aimed at enhancing the cultural, environmental and religious tourism. The project which was implemented by CARITAS Lebanon included the construction of four tracks on a 6 km stretch of land crossing the village alleys, hills, valleys, monasteries, churches and water mills. The completion of the project will allow villagers and visitors to tour the neighborhood and appreciate through trekking the picturesque features of region throughout the four seasons. (Al Diyar, December 2, 2015)