Have you considered urban farming as a solution to combat inflation and crises?

Is there a way out? A shock? A wake-up call? These are the questions we raised at "Dialectic" after the news of the coronavirus outbreak spread across most countries of the world, with Lebanon being one of them. We are now faced with two choices: either surrender or resist and conquer. Despite the burden of economic problems on Lebanese citizens, the swift actions of everyone to help and propose initiatives in their own way, according to their abilities and scope of work, prove that we are choosing the second option.

What the Lebanese are doing today highlights not only the human potential our country is rich in across all sectors and fields but also the importance of local industries that were once almost forgotten, gathering dust on store shelves and in warehouses. With the halt of imports due to the cessation of air travel worldwide, local industries have proven their quality and high standards in various sectors, from food products to medical supplies, such as sanitizers and cleaning materials, which, according to doctors, are being relied upon by both public and private hospitals for their effectiveness and quality.

Furthermore, the successful attempts in certain industries, like the production of ventilators for patients and handmade masks (which are also made by the army for its soldiers), further convince us that our industry is promising and must be revived, just as it was before the Civil War in 1975, which devastated all productive sectors.

This article focuses on the topic of urban farming, which I see as an urgent need today, especially since every crisis brings with it a food crisis, whether it’s due to the scarcity of crops resulting from the halt in imports or the suffering of citizens from high food prices caused by merchants’ monopoly over the sector.

What is striking is that despite the recurring crises in this sector at every crossroad, Lebanon, according to the United Nations, has the potential "to play a central role in achieving food security in the region." This indicates the agricultural sector's ability not only to meet the basic needs of citizens but also to be, and must be, the largest contributor to the Lebanese economy due to the favorable climate and fertile soil suitable for various types of farming.

What is required are individual initiatives, which have recently emerged in response to the food crisis following the demands of the 17th of October uprising, but they are still timid. These initiatives must reinvigorate interest in this very important sector and restore government support for it. We have already begun to witness efforts in the Ministry of Agriculture in both the previous and current governments to revive and develop this sector.

How can we avoid the food problem in every crisis, whether political or natural, as is happening now?