Lebanon

5 November 2008

Since 2003, UNDP, the Dryland Development Center of the United Nations, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and the Ministry of Agriculture embarked in the elaboration of a National Action Plan (NAP) for combating desertification and its deteriorating effect on poverty. Following the recommendations of the NAP, UNDP and the MoA are currently implementing a project to promote rural development in drylands under moderate or high threats of desertification through the introduction of innovative market approaches.

The current project has already identified pilot products for which optimized production can be achieved in dryland areas. The products were tested in Finland for their quality, purity and microbiological properties. Accordingly, six products were finally selected based on their potential to be marketable and launched in the Finnish market. These products include: Zaatar mixture, Sumac, Burghol, Rose Water, Carob molasses, almonds and raisins. The brand name "Drylands-Lebanon" and logo were also produced.

Five Lebanese producers specialized in these products were selected based on specific criteria including their belonging to dryland areas and the quality and purity of their products that should be natural and without the usage of pesticides. The five selected Lebanese producers to take part in this project are:

• Ain Yaacoub Women Processing Cooperative, Akkar (Burghol and Rose Water)
• Ain Ebel Cooperative for Women, South Lebanon (Carob molasses and Zaatar)
• Ain Aareesh Cooperative, West Bekaa (Sumac and Zaatar)
• Agricultural Women Processing Cooperative of Nejmet Sobeh, Rachayya (Almonds)
• Khairat Rachayya, family business, Rachayya, Bekaa (Almonds and seedless Raisins)

All of the above producers received training on best techniques to enhance the quality of their product as well as support in marketing and labeling the produces. Access to a number of local and international Fair Trades was also facilitated through the project.
Sakina El Rajab, founder of "Women Processing Cooperative Association of Ain Yaacoub" participated through UNDP project and its finish partners in a food show event in Helsinki. During the show, she had the chance to visit Finnish stores and meet Finnish traders. Several Lebanese dishes were prepared from the selected products and were introduced to the Finnish participants. Sakina's experience is very inspirational to others, as she comes from a village that was once abundant with water and now ravaged by the effect of desertification. She has lead a women's initiative which succeeded in engaging in traditional and healthy production of agricultural products to help the creation of new jobs and give families of her village an opportunity for better lives.

This project gives people like Sakina and many others windows of hope to overcome the harsh impact desertification inflicted on their livelihoods, helping them grow beyond their local markets and have the chance to access international markets increasingly demanding in terms of quality and standards of production. "It makes all the difference when someone gives you a hand instead of being left alone. This project expanded our horizons and makes us believe that we could reach markets beyond the borders of our little village…it has also built our awareness on standards and techniques in quality, accounting...that are essential and of which we were not aware..." says Sakina al Rajab.