Beirut: Lebanon has finalized a $7.3 million agreement with France aimed at enhancing green agriculture development, as reported by the National News Agency (NNA). The pact was signed in Cairo during a seminar dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture, with Lebanese Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan in attendance.
The initiative is designed to assist around 2,500 Lebanese farmers in transitioning to eco-friendly farming practices while also supporting over 150 cooperatives and private traders in enhancing their agricultural outputs, according to Hajj Hassan’s office. Furthermore, the project aims to raise awareness about the significance of sustainable agriculture and bolster public policies that facilitate this shift, as noted by Xinhua news agency.
The CIHEAM Montpellier, involved in the agreement, is one of the four institutes of CIHEAM (International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies), an intergovernmental organization based in France with 13 member states, including Lebanon.
Minister Hajj Hassan’s office emphasized that the project will be executed over the coming four years under the supervision of the Lebanese Agriculture Ministry. France is a key political ally of Lebanon, evidenced by robust bilateral relations and its consistent support at the UN for resolutions that uphold Lebanon’s sovereignty. France also prioritizes the strengthening of Lebanese state institutions to reinforce its authority throughout the country.