Agriculture Ministry, FAO launch $140,000 cash assistance program for 465 livestock farmers in South Lebanon
The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched an emergency cash assistance program targeting 465 vulnerable dairy livestock farmers affected by hostilities in South Lebanon and Nabatieh, with total funding of approximately $140,000.
Under the initiative, each beneficiary will receive $300 in unconditional cash assistance to cover essential expenses, including animal feed, veterinary care and other inputs needed to sustain livestock production.
The program targets small-scale Lebanese dairy farmers directly affected by the conflict, amid mounting challenges facing a sector that supports more than 13,000 farms nationwide.
Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani stressed that protecting livestock production was essential to safeguarding national food security, preserving rural livelihoods and sustaining agricultural activity in conflict-affected communities.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with international partners to improve veterinary services, protect farmers and develop a more resilient agricultural sector.
Hani also thanked the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL for helping relocate farms and livestock to safer areas.
For her part, FAO Representative in Lebanon Veronica Quattrola emphasized that the assistance would help farmers address urgent needs, protect their livestock and maintain supplies of essential dairy products to local markets.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the Agriculture Ministry and FAO to mitigate the impact of the conflict and strengthen the resilience of Lebanon’s agricultural and food systems.
