Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani said that “the visit to Damascus represents a starting point for activating agricultural cooperation between the two brotherly countries.”
In a statement on Monday, Hani explained that “in the meeting with the Syrian Minister of Agriculture, Amjad Badr, we are moving practically from the stage of political discussions to the stage of field work, where decisions are transformed into concrete projects on the ground. This meeting is the first direct practical cooperation between the Ministries of Agriculture in Lebanon and Syria after a series of high-level meetings at the level of heads of state and governments. Today, we affirm that agriculture is not an ordinary sector, but rather a sovereign pillar of food security, social and economic stability, and a strategic investment in the future of our two peoples.”
Hani stressed that “cooperation with Syria must be comprehensive,” adding: “Lebanon and Syria are not only linked by geography, but also by a long history of social, cultural and economic cooperation, and one land with its climate and agricultural diversity, and intertwined production chains for centuries. From the Bekaa Valley to the Ghouta, and from the coast to the mountains, agriculture forms a living link between our two peoples, transcending political boundaries to reflect a unity of environmental and food destiny.”
He added, “The challenges facing Lebanon and Syria today require real integration on the ground. In light of climate change, water scarcity, market fluctuations, and disruptions in supply chains, cooperation becomes not an option, but a strategic necessity. We are called upon to join efforts, protect natural resources, secure food for our peoples, and ensure the stability of agricultural markets.”
He also emphasized “the role of Syrian farmers and expertise in supporting Lebanese production,” directing “a tribute to everyone who works in the fields,” adding: “Farmers in our two countries constitute the first line of defense for food security and a real link between the two brotherly peoples.”
Hani explained that “the meeting set a clear roadmap for practical implementation that includes plant and veterinary health, protecting livestock and combating transboundary diseases, managing forests and combating forest fires, adapting to climate change, exchanging experiences and agricultural innovation, regulating trade exchange in a way that protects local production and ensures quality and standards, forming permanent coordination committees between the two ministries, joint training programs for farmers and agricultural engineers, and joint projects in food industries, fodder and modern irrigation networks.”
He pointed out that “controlling borders and combating smuggling is not only a security issue, but also a protection for the health of citizens, the safety of production and the stability of markets in the two countries,” noting that “what has been achieved is not just a formal meeting, but the beginning of a long path for sustainable strategic cooperation between Lebanon and Syria,” pointing out that “agriculture was and will remain a bridge for integration, stability, and food security in our region.”
Likewise, the minister affirmed that “Lebanese-Syrian cooperation today constitutes a real investment in the future of farmers and the countryside, and lays a basic building block in building a more resilient and effective regional agricultural system.”
