The Lebanese agricultural sector has been under stress for over 30 years and
the war has aggravated the situation, especially in the South of the country
where agriculture remains an important component of people's livelihood.
In partnership with the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences at AUB, SEAL
donated $25,000 for the creation of a mobile rural development unit ('Rural
bus').
The Rural Bus fulfills multiple roles:
- The unit is manned by two agriculture engineers covering crop and animal
production specialties.
- The bus houses a small public library containing agriculture and non-agriculture books and magazines.
- Included is an IT training center consisting of a broadband internet hub and
wireless peripherals to help in farmers' training, in accessing agricultural
information systems and IT instruction.
Update
The Rural Bus is working in eight villages and has offered services to 40
farmers so far. A partnership with The Handicapped Center in Sarafand
is underway: they will provide a nursery and the bus will in turn produce
seedlings of aromatic plants and thyme for distribution to farmers looking
to diversify their crops. An agreement is also being drafted with the 56
municipalities of the Tyre region to establish an agricultural extension facility
in the area, managed but the grouping of municipalities and trained through
the 'Rural bus'.
Also $15,000 was allocated to biodiversity conservation through use: Laurel
Soap by the women of Aita Al Shaab.
This is SEAL's fourth project with AUB.
