Joumana and Emily stead-fasting in the Beqaa through their agriculture venture

Sisters Joumana and Emily Rizk chose to start up their own agricultural business at the thresholds of the Eastern Lebanese Mountain Range adjacent to the dangerous and tense Syrian border. The project consist in the setting up of a vineyard, near Zahleh, planted with some 12 thousand new types of grape vines and stretching along 120 acres of land. The two sisters who live in Achrafieh area of Beirut have a very clear vision of their bold undertaking and aim at exporting production in compliance with international and European import standards. Proud with their endeavor, Emily and Joumana said that their aim is not only to achieve financial success but also to reinforce a vision of coexistence among different communities, support national unity and a sense of attachment to the land. Expressing their gratitude to the people of the area, Emily and Joumana noted that the region is in dire need of job generation and development initiatives “which is why we are doing what we a are doing albeit on a limited scale, but we want to set an example to others.”

(Source: As Safir, June 25, 2015)