November 15, 2026
Intensifying his diplomatic and development efforts, the Minister of Agriculture, Nizar Hani, held a series of meetings focused on strengthening international cooperation frameworks and developing the local agricultural sector, as well as following up on the affairs of farmers and fishermen on the ground.
On the diplomatic side, Hani met with the Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon, Nicole Ruder, where the progress of projects supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, specifically in the irrigation water and energy sectors, was reviewed. He also discussed with the German Ambassador, Thomas Tsanaizen, the progress of projects implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), especially those related to supporting agricultural marketing and digitizing the work sector in the ministry.
In line with the expansion of Arab partnerships, Hani discussed with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Sudanese Embassy, Ahmed Saad El-Din, the prospects for joint agricultural cooperation, in continuation of previous discussions with the Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Professor Ismat Qureshi Abdullah. In this context, Hani stressed that evaluating the impact of partnerships is measured by the extent of their direct impact on the daily lives of farmers, from securing irrigation water and energy to facilitating the marketing of production, stressing that the recovery of the agricultural sector in the south remains a top priority to enable farmers to remain steadfast on their lands.
Locally, the Minister of Agriculture received MP Mohamed Suleiman in his office, accompanied by the President of the Union of Municipalities of Al-Duraib Al-Awsat, Alaa Abdel-Wahed, and a number of mayors. The attendees discussed the development and agricultural reality of the region and the needs of municipalities and farmers, highlighting the need to listen to the field to determine infrastructure priorities.
Regarding the Beit Al-Fashash beekeepers’ cooperative file, Hani listened to a delegation of members and decided to form a specialized work team from the Cooperatives Directorate to conduct an administrative and financial audit and a comprehensive inventory of property and equipment, in preparation for submitting a detailed report specifying the necessary legal procedures. The meeting also concluded the need to strengthen the fight against honey adulteration in order to protect consumers and preserve the reputation of national production and the rights of beekeepers.
On the ground, the Minister of Agriculture and the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Lebanon, Veronica Quattrola, carried out an inspection tour of the fishermen’s port in the Jnah area. The two parties reviewed the working conditions and listened to the demands of the fishermen, namely rehabilitating the infrastructure, enhancing security, treating waste, and developing fishing equipment. In response to the demands, Hani sent official letters to the Ministries of Public Works and Transport, National Defense, and the Ghobeiry Municipality, to pursue solutions within the powers of each party.
The Ministry of Agriculture accompanied the visit with a field day to register fishermen in the farmers’ registry, where Hani renewed his call to all fishermen in Lebanon to take the initiative to register, in order to frame services and direct support programmes, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to improving their living conditions and protecting fish wealth and the marine environment.
