In his speech, Hani stressed that the Lebanese agricultural sector, despite the difficult circumstances it has gone through in recent years, still constitutes one of the pillars of food security and economic and social stability in Lebanon, noting that the recent war had major repercussions on farmers, agricultural production, infrastructure, natural resources, and agricultural value chains.
He said: “What we are presenting today is not just numbers or statistical indicators, but rather the product of a joint national effort aimed at building a clear vision for agricultural recovery based on science, accurate data and effective partnerships. Rebuilding the agricultural sector can only be done through a realistic understanding of the extent of damage and losses and setting priorities in an objective and transparent manner.”

He added: “The Ministry of Agriculture has been keen, since the first days of the crisis, to work with its national and international partners to develop scientific and practical tools that help direct the response according to the real needs of farmers, away from general estimates or uncoordinated interventions, in order to ensure the greatest possible impact of the available resources.”

Hani stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture’s network of partners has today become an advanced model of cooperation and coordination between various parties concerned with agricultural development and food security, pointing out that the Ministry has worked over the past months to strengthen this cooperation by developing a specialized national digital platform that allows unifying information, coordinating interventions, and setting priorities in a dynamic and continuous manner.

He added: “Digital transformation is no longer an option, but has become a basic necessity to enhance the effectiveness of public work. From this standpoint, we have developed the Ministry of Agriculture’s partners platform to be the national reference for coordinating agricultural initiatives, projects and investments, and to provide a comprehensive and updated picture of needs, interventions and available resources.”