Project Overview

The Food Security Project supports Lebanon’s national food security and agricultural recovery efforts through the revival of the certified wheat seed value chain, strengthening of farmer livelihoods, and support to cooperatives and MSMEs. Implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and LARI, and funded by the German Government through KfW, the project focuses on restoring domestic wheat production capacity, improving access to quality inputs, and reinforcing institutional coordination across the cereals sector.

Project Objective

• Revive and operationalize LARI’s certified wheat seed production programme through the rehabilitation and upgrading of critical infrastructure at LARI stations, including seed production units, storage facilities, laboratories, irrigation networks, and greenhouses.
• Improve access to certified, climate-resilient wheat seeds for farmers in priority regions by strengthening local seed production, processing, quality control, packaging, and distribution systems, thereby reducing reliance on imports.
• Strengthen the wheat value chain through targeted technical and financial support to cooperatives, MSMEs, and start-ups, including the procurement and rehabilitation of agricultural machinery, equipment, and post-harvest infrastructure.
• Enhance farmer incomes, employment, and resilience through capacity-building initiatives, in-kind support, and cash-for-work activities linked to seed multiplication, processing, packaging, and distribution.
• Promote climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by integrating renewable energy solutions (including solar power systems at LARI stations), efficient irrigation networks, improved water and input management, and climate-smart production techniques.
• Support evidence-based national food security planning, coordination, and policy dialogue by strengthening institutional capacities at LARI and across the wheat seed value chain, and by generating reliable data and lessons to inform national cereals strategies.
   

Achievements & Key Figures

Rehabilitating and upgrading the infrastructure for the LARI national seed programme through:

• 47 hectares of LARI’s land rehabilitated for seed production.
• 3 grain storage warehouses and silos constructed & rehabilitated.
•  17 greenhouses and glasshouses for trees and vegetable production constructed and rehabilitated.
• 3 laboratory equipment for testing provided.
• 15 heavy machineries and equipment procured, and 251 equipment and items repaired.
• 5 LARI stations equipped with solar power systems.
• 6 Irrigation networks rehabilitated across LARI stations.

Operational and implementation plans for LARI stations:

• Tailored Operational and implementation plan for each unit under the seed programme.
• One national strategy and business plan for seed production developed and adopted by LARI.
• 3 tailored operational plansfor LARI wheat production units.
• Assessment of national wheat value chain.
• Providing farmers (40 + specialized farmers and 300 + vulnerable small scale farmers), 15 MSMEs, and 15 cooperatives with technical and in-kind assistance.
• Incubating 20 Youth start-ups engaged in innovative solutions related to resources and input production
   

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

The SFSL project prioritizes Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GEN2) by ensuring that women and marginalized groups have equitable access to project benefits. Special measures are taken to design Labor-Intensive Public Works that are accessible to women, providing them with safe working environments and sustainable income. The project supports women-led cooperatives and female farmers through targeted technical training and business development grants.