October 11, 2026
The Ministry of Agriculture, represented by the Directorate of Rural Development and Natural Resources, completed a large air campaign to combat the insect “Leptoglossus sp.” Which threatens the fruitful pine forests and causes severe damage to the cobs and seeds, which negatively affects the productivity and economic returns of families who depend on this sector.
The campaign was implemented between August 26 and September 30, 2026, and included a total area of 1,437 hectares distributed over four districts. They are: Baabda (680 hectares), Aley (350 hectares), Chouf (327 hectares), and Jezzine (80 hectares).
The campaign witnessed the use of drones designated for agricultural spraying, provided as a gift from the People’s Republic of China, for the first time, which allowed for precise definition of intervention areas, control and distribution of spray quantities, rationalization of the use of pesticides, access to rugged areas, and reduction of operational costs compared to helicopters, in addition to documenting the treated areas and improving field monitoring and evaluation operations.
In the same context, the Ministry indicated that operations stopped at the end of last September due to rain and changing weather conditions, pointing out that Israeli electronic interference in the southern regions posed an additional challenge that affected the navigation and positioning systems of drones, which hindered the completion of operations safely and accurately. However, the Ministry confirms that it continues to evaluate the technical, climatic and security conditions in preparation for completing interventions as soon as appropriate conditions are available.
The Ministry concluded by emphasizing that protecting fruitful pine trees represents an environmental, economic and social priority due to its vital role in protecting soil, biodiversity, and securing incomes for families working in the sector. She called on municipalities and their unions to cooperate with agricultural departments and early report infections, stressing that the success of the campaign will be measured by a decrease in infections, improvement in tree health, and restoration of their production within the process of modernizing the forest protection system with technology and sustainable management.
