The agricultural sector in Lebanon is promising if government support is provided

L’Orient le Jour noted in its issue of last Saturday that the total agricultural exports in Lebanon recorded 638369 tons in 2013 of a USD 215.70 million value.  The result recorded in 2013 was 17% higher than that of the previous year. According to the summary report released by BLOM Bank, the agricultural sector witnessed a marked improvement while potentials for better performance have yet to be fulfilled.  Indeed, and despite Lebanon’s clear advantages namely its climate, soil composition and availability of water, the sector is still facing numerous challenges and particularly the recent spillovers of the continuing Syrian crisis.
But despite this, the report adds that the agricultural sector has been able to maintain its economic position during the period extending between 2004 and 2011 and its contribution to the economy amounted to 4.1% of the GDP in 2011, while other sectors’ contribution were higher, such as: commerce (16% of GDP), professional and financial services (7%) each. Furthermore, agricultural activity grew by 8.5% during the period extending between 2004 and 2011, while the GDP grew by 9.1% during the same period. The added value of the agricultural sector grew to USD 1.52 billion in 2011 from USD 792.70 million in 2004. According to the sources of the report, and despite the impact of the Syrian crisis on land transport, Lebanon nevertheless succeeded in taking advantage from that crisis by replacing other countries exporting agricultural products to the Syrian market.
On another level, Lebanon imported in 2013 some 1.9 million tons of agricultural products, valued at USD 922.79 million. Internal consumption reached USD 1.62 billion in the same year, thus Lebanon imported 4 times higher than it exported, resulting in a slight improvement in the continuing imbalance in food security (23.4% exports coverage of imports in 2013, against 19.7% in 2012).
The first destination of Lebanese agricultural exports remains the neighboring Arab countries, with Syria coming first and accounting for 18% of total export, followed by Jordan and KSA.  As for the type of exported products, potato accounted for 17% of the total exported goods, followed by flour (9%), re-exporting coffee (8%) and banana (8%).

Source: L’Orient le Jour 21 June 2014