The sixty six recommendations of the FAO
    presented in 2004.
    How many were executed since? What do we
    intend to do about them now?


      1  MOBILIZE WATER AND RATIONALIZE ITS USAGE   

         Water is the first and most important concern in the strategy of agriculture development.
    First, because water is essential to increase the productivity of that sector. Second, because
    we expect that, by the year 2015, our conventional hydraulic resources will no longer be
    sufficient for their purpose. That is why mobilizing water is essential if we want the other
    techniques to succeed in the implementation of the right agricultural policy.  

                               1) Future water availability and role of agriculture in water usage
                                       2)Improve water conservation and fight pollution
    3) Water mobilization programs are behind and micro hydraulics are
    underestimated
    4)Save water through new techniques
    5)Revise the legal frame because it is not adapted to the present conditions
    6)Organize the recuperation of costs and create users associations



                  PUBLIC POLICIES                                
    1                Dams                                
    2                Reservoirs                                
    3                Micro-hydraulic techniques                                
    4                Pollution fight and conservation                                
    5                Cost recuperation                                
                    INSTITUTIONS                                
    6                Renovation of regulations                                
    7                Users associations                                
    8                Administrative reform and inter-ministerial cooperation                                
    9                ONADAR                                
    10              Renovated Green Plan                                
                    GOVERNANCE                                
    11                inter-ministerial cooperation                                
    12                De-concentration                                
    13                Associations participation                                
                    PUBLIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMS                                
    14                Hydraulic Master Plan                                
    15                Managing basins                                
    16                Surface rehabilitation                                
                   SOCIO-POLITICAL PROBLEMS                                
    17                Land problems                                
    18                Poverty fight                                
    19                Reaction against cost-recuperation                                
    20                Redefine the mission of the Green Plan  
                                  
            2        HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THE LAND
                                    
    21                Soil utilization and land occupation must be watched attentively                                
    22                Help soil conservation: erosion, fertility, pollution                                
    23                The land issue is a major and lengthy issue
                                   
            3        USE MORE EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES
          
     Increasing the technical efficiency is a central element of a successful agricultural strategy. It
    can, in some instances, double the productivity rate of the agricultural enterprise.
                           
    24                Get out of the mediocrity cycle                                
    25                Introduce new vegetal varieties based on market studies and new   specialized         
    “pepinieres” (see EXPORT-PLUS and AGRO-PLUS                                
    26                Improve the usage of modern techniques in pesticides, moto-culture, poultry
    culture, animal production                                
    27                Zoning and territory setting can start rapidly with the existing GIS at MINAGRI.
    Modern techniques can be improved in cazas.                                
    28                Technical training at all levels should be pursued with energy including the
    professional associations and the suppliers of pesticides. The Universities and IRAL should
    cooperate.                                
    29                Financing by ONGs, banks, suppliers is needed
                                   
            4        ENERGIZE THE DISTRIBUTION    

       The relationship between producers and distributors of agricultural products
    should be strengthened for their mutual benefit.                        
    30                More transparency and more specialized distribution channels: fresh products,
    transformation, export etc.
                                    
                    Increase channel efficacy:                                
    31                Additional wholesale markets or increase size of current ones                                
    32                Acquire better handling equipment and better  methods                                 
    33                Study and collect data                                
    34                Create open air markets to stimulate direct sales to consumers  
                                  
                    Improve the techniques:                                
    35                New refrigeration technologies                                
    36                Improved investment policies                                
    37                Improved specialization (logos)                                
    38                Concentration and scale reduction of cost
                                  
                    Promote voluntary inter-professional organization of certain channels or sub-
    channels                                
    39                Share information                                
    40                Develop a common vision                                
    41                Elaborate a concerted strategy and an action plan                                
    42                A structure in favor of cooperatives  
                                  
                    Options offered to certain channels
                                   
    43                Wheat and tobacco (social aspects)                                
    44                Flowers, aromatics and medicinal plants                                
    45                Vegetables and wine (keep in touch with market, local & inter.)                                
    46                Animal products (branding of products and logos). Study international norms
    (essential)                                
    47                Olives (open the market to Syria) because olives cover 20% of SAU.  
                                 
            5        INTEGRATE THE TERRITORY WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL AND
    URBAN DEVELOPMENT  

          The agricultural development should be studied in the different geographical areas
                           
    48                Identify the production systems in different regional areas                                
    49                Develop local initiatives in each region supported by State or NGO                               
    50                Start the decentralization and strengthen the role of central
    collectivities                                
    51                De-concentrate the state’s action                                
    52                Create local decision matters (municipalities, cooperatives, ONFs, Associations
    and favor interrelation with Central Government      
                              
            6        RENOVATE THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONAL
    FRAMEWORK

           Over-centralization and compartimentalization in the State institutions have led to
    stagnation and underdevelopment. The opposite move should be supported by the Prime
    Minister       
                     
    53                Restructure MINAGRI                                
    54                Restructure the Central Services                                
    55                Define the competencies of the regional services                                
    56                Modernize the Green Plan                                
    57                IRAL: Strengthen the research and the relationship with the universities. Conduct
    experiments with the regional schools or with private firms.   
                                 
            7        SYSTEMATIZE THE PARTICIPATION OF THE STAKE-HOLDERS IN
    THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

          Besides agricultural development where the profitability of the investment and the
    remuneration of the entrepreneur are basic considerations, the rural development implies
    that social and environmental considerations are essential.    
                        
    58                Economic, social and environmental aspects of rural
    development                                
    59                Improve basic package revenues                                
    60                Improve living and social conditions                                
    61                Improve human resources and protect women role                                
    62                Protect the natural resources                                
    63                Diversify activities, introduce agro-tourism, artisanal agro-feeding, artisanal
    services      
                              
            8        THE INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIONS TO CONSIDER

         The Strategy is only the first part of a sequence that also includes: the policy, the
    programs and the projects.  
                          
    64                A National Observatory for the analysis of the rural and the agricultural development
    (ONADAR)                                
    65                De-centralization and de-concentration                                
    66                A National development program for certain strategic products                                
THE FAO AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY FOR
LEBANON - 2004