A LIVCD workshop in Rashayya to strengthen honey production as a health food product

The programme entitled “Economic Dialogue” organised a workshop on “strengthening food production as a healthy food as well as a promising investment”.  The event was organised last week a the Rashayya castle under the auspices of USAID and the programme for developing the value chain in the Lebanese industrial sector (LIVCD) and which seeks to develop various productive sectors in Lebanon and particularly the honey production of Jabal el Sheikh.  Some 130 beekeepers, from various parts of Lebanon, took part in this workshop many of whom are members and/or heads of cooperatives and unions of cooperatives of beekeepers in addition to representatives from USAID, local municipalities and individuals who sell honey and its derivatives.  The workshop was part of a series of seminars organised by the project and aiming at strengthening rural development through highlighting the importance of small and medium enterprises, the opportunities they present for investment, as well as the importance of networking between project holders, investors, banks and donors interested in agriculture and animal farming.
The marketing and export director of the USAID/LIVCD project, Dr. Nadine Chemaly, spoke during the workshop of the project and its various objectives namely to develop the production sector especially in relation to Lebanese honey production, and strengthening the capacities of beekeepers through training workshops on beekeeping, pest control and marketing strategies.  Participating beekeepers spoke of the difficulties they currently face as well as the important role that municipalities should play in preserving beekeeping.
Source: Al-Diyar 18 November 2013