Are there any achievements by former Minister of Agriculture Hassan Al-Lakiss? The crisis of food shortages and agricultural education

Since the beginning of what is known as the "October 17 Uprising," there has been much talk in Lebanon about the danger of a food crisis that could affect basic goods. After the resignation of the previous government headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, "Dialectic" interviewed former Minister of Agriculture Hassan Al-Lakiss. What did he do to confront the economic crisis? Were we, and are we still, facing the risk of a food crisis? What does the trade balance in the agricultural sector mean? Are we an agricultural society? How can we achieve agricultural education to face crises? How did the Ministry deal with individual initiatives? And where is sustainable development in the former minister's plan?
The Food Basket to Confront the Crisis
Al-Lakiss explains the connection between the economic situation and the agricultural sector, noting that "the agricultural sector can be one of the main pillars of the Lebanese economy or one of the reasons for its crises when measuring the balance of payments." What does this mean?
He says, "Lebanon imports agricultural products worth $20 billion while it exports only $2 billion," which means that the country is facing "a trade deficit of $18 billion." This is due to "high consumption rates." In normal economic conditions, "citizens do not feel the burden because the state can afford the costs of imports." However, according to Al-Lakiss, "Had the agricultural sector received the necessary attention for many years, it would have been a lever for the Lebanese economy, significantly reducing the import bill and adjusting the trade balance."
What about economic deficits? How did the Ministry of Agriculture handle the economic crisis and the risk of a food crisis?
Al-Lakiss explains, "If we cannot import essential consumer goods due to financial crises, we must think of other options, some of which are available and within reach, and some beyond our control, which is what we did in the Ministry of Agriculture." He explains the components of the food basket, which include bread, meat (both red and white), dairy products, and vegetables.
Bread
"The private sector imports bread at a cost of about $2.7 billion. Of course, this number is large and can be reduced by growing wheat, which is used to make bread." Although Lebanon has historically been known for its ability to grow and export wheat, it is currently suffering from a significant shortage of wheat cultivation "due to several factors, including climate conditions and others related to commercial calculations by traders." As a result, the decision was made to prioritize wheat farming in Lebanon, first to eliminate the need for imports due to the economic crisis, as the state, in addition to import costs, is obliged to subsidize bread and compensate farmers without benefiting the farmer, the state, or the sector. Secondly, "this would relieve farmers by allowing them to benefit from the crop when sold and securing their family's needs in case they haven't sold all the produce."
In this context, Al-Lakiss explains that "the ministry launched an initiative approved by the Cabinet in the last government under Prime Minister Saad Hariri, which focuses on attempts to grow soft wheat used for bread. We encourage farmers by providing them with wheat free of charge to grow within specific guidelines. We opened the door for farmers to apply, setting a penalty clause stating that if a farmer receives wheat from the ministry and does not plant it, they must pay 800 Lebanese pounds, which is more than its original cost." This project, which the Ministry of Agriculture began implementing under the previous government, was done "in coordination with the Ministry of Economy." According to Al-Lakiss, "the project was a great motivator for farmers and encouraged others who did not have land to request assistance in starting to grow white wheat." The initiative not only benefited farmers but also established a cooperative relationship between the Ministry of Agriculture and municipalities and municipal unions to secure wheat cultivation in various Lebanese regions, from the south to Bekaa and the north."
Vegetables
In this sector, Al-Lakiss explains that the ministry put in place regulations such that "the importation of vegetables requires a license, meaning that vegetables cannot be imported without the personal approval of the minister." This was done "to reduce spending, encourage Lebanese farmers, and give them their rightful share in securing a livelihood from their cultivation."
Meat Protection
Al-Lakiss notes that he cannot "satisfy the entire market with red meat, which makes importation a necessity that cannot be avoided." The ministry also worked on putting "regulations that pushed people to think about developing their farms." As for chicken and eggs, the ministry "completely banned their import because Lebanese farmers can cover the market's needs."
Dairy Products
The ministry worked on protecting Lebanese farmers' rights by issuing a decision to raise "the price of one kilogram of milk to 1,040 Lebanese pounds, up from 800 Lebanese pounds, as farmers were always protesting and demanding a price increase to 1,000 Lebanese pounds."
Agriculture and Sustainable Development
Like all other sectors in Lebanon, the agricultural sector suffers from a lack of long-term plans, and ministries' work is limited to temporary solutions without establishing a sustainable action plan that protects farmers and organizes the sector's work. Given that agriculture is central to development, especially amid economic, environmental, and climatic changes, it was necessary to ask if there are any long-term plans to regulate the sector.
Al-Lakiss affirms that "understanding the necessity to organize the sector, the ministry worked on implementing the Farmer's Card law, which serves as an information bank on each farmer's geographic location, the size of their land, types of crops, and other required information, so we can develop effective plans to advance and organize the sector."
Do we have an agricultural culture in Lebanon?
Al-Lakiss reveals that "the ministry launched a series of agricultural training courses for farmers, and was also looking into establishing a guarantee fund, insurance, or mutual aid fund to secure their rights and address their affairs, especially since they suffer from disasters and no one compensates them." The training courses include establishing agricultural ponds, streamlining irrigation, and teaching farmers how to use technology, in addition to studying the quality of crops and soil. The cost of this project, which Al-Lakiss began implementing in coordination with the World Bank, is $90 million, divided as follows: one-third of the value is a grant from the World Bank, while two-thirds of the cost is a loan with a 1% interest rate for 20 years.
Individual Initiatives Amid the Crisis
Returning to the economic crisis in Lebanon and the risk of a food crisis, Al-Lakiss confirms that the ministry supported a number of individual initiatives that began spreading across all Lebanese territories. "We have agricultural departments in every governorate, and in each department, we have several agricultural centers where an agricultural engineer and a veterinarian are assigned to communicate with the public and farmers," pointing out the importance of this relationship between farmers and ordinary citizens on one hand and the ministry on the other. In this context, Al-Lakiss mentions that opening these centers to the public allowed anyone to apply for assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture by providing them with the wheat they need and helping them plant it properly.
Agricultural Schools
Al-Lakiss reveals that Lebanon has agricultural schools and agricultural guidance, but they are very neglected. Therefore, "in cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of Agriculture contracted to renovate and rebuild them as required to make them exemplary, with the cost of each school being about 600 euros. It is expected that they will begin operating in a few months." Additionally, there was a proposal to provide students with a salary, meaning a monthly subsidy from the Lebanese state, along with agricultural centers that offer agricultural guidance courses. For Al-Lakiss, this "issue is very important, as it establishes a sustainable agricultural culture on how to work with healthy agricultural practices, including the type of fertilizer and pesticides, among other things that directly affect people's health as well as the environment."