1990-2004
Chronological overview of RMF's Achievements in the Rural and Agricultural Development Fields over 15 years
1994-1995
Created a cedar plant nursery in Ehden.
Developed the concept and began the creation of the Agricultural Center of the North (CAN).
1996
Created a forest and fruit tree Plant Nursery in Medjlaya, North Lebanon .
Launched the Pilot Animal Farm (Granja), which is affiliated to CAN for:
- Intensive breeding
- Artificial insemination
- Preservation of the environment
1997
Launched CAN with the following:
- Cold storage service: 5 refrigerated rooms with a total capacity of 48,000 crates
- Labor, spraying, and fertilizer service
- Information and training service for farmers
- Technical assistance to farmers
- Organization of conferences
- Publication of books, one of which was Food Security
- Services to improve commercialization
- Reforestation activities
Began the following activities at the Pilot Animal Farm:
- Conferences and trainings on intensive breeding of cattle and goats
- A technical assistance service composed of agricultural engineers and veterinarians
- A research center for professors and students
Trained 40 rural women in the processing of honey, arak, rose water, and orange blossom water.
Dug an artesian well in Alma, Zgharta in order to provide water to the inhabitants of the region.
1998
Trained 28 women in the milk processing and the food industry.
Enlarged the Pilot Animal Farm Granja with the addition of bovine breeding.
Created a laboratory to test water, milk, and food industry products within CAN.
Created a milk processing unit within CAN.
Created a water treatment system within CAN.
1999 - 2000
Established a revolving funds livestock feed sales center, which serves the breeders' cooperative in Zgharta and the beneficiaries of the Pilot Animal Farm. Feed is bought in exchange for milk.
Launched the Marj label for dairy products.
Added a sorting and packaging machine and created a commercialization service within CAN.
2001
Expanded the cold storage service in CAN from 48,000 crates to 124,000 crates. Added a permanent computerized monitoring system that maintains a consistent humidity and temperature level.
Established a waxing unit for fruit within CAN's commercialization service for fruits and vegetables.
Created a pilot fruit orchard and olive grove named al Baraka.
2002
Distributed 15,000 forest trees of local varieties and 26,500 higher quality fruit trees.
Began implementation of the Clustering for Economic Development and Revitalization of Industry Sectors (CEDARS) project.
Created a natural ice cream production unit within CAN.
Expanded the revolving funds program to include goats and cattle, which could be bought in exchange for milk.
Launched the Development Program for the Olive Oil Sector with a pilot project in Batroun. Created an olive growers' cooperative. The olive growers participating in the program benefited from the technical assistance of RMF's agricultural engineers that provided training and advice at each stage of production. Constructed an olive oil press and a bottling line that enabled the extraction and bottling of extra virgin olive oil under the highest standards of hygiene.
Transferred know-how and provided training to the Barakat cooperative in Douriss, Bekaa by the establishment of a cold storage unit and fruit sorting machine.
Implemented 5 projects within the CEDARS (clustering for economic development and revitalization of industry sector) framework:
- Improvement of forage production
- Improvement of goat breeding
- Creation of an agricultural central market
- Valorization of arboriculture growing
- Creation of a cold storage unit and packaging unit for agricultural produce to serve cooperatives in the Bekaa.
2003
Transferred technical know-how to a Jordanian association for the implementation of a milk processing workshop.
Began the export of very high quality extra virgin olive oil from Batroun in the international market (Europe and the United States), through a partnership with OLIVIERS and CO.
Conducted an international publicity campaign for the promotion of Lebanese extra virgin olive oil.
Launched the professional training and integrated rural development project in North Lebanon. The project's objective is to provide technical assistance and professional training to agricultural farmers in North Lebanon.
2004
Conducted research on agricultural cooperatives in an effort to find solutions to their various challenges.
Continuation of the CEDARS program:
- Improvement of forage production and its usage
- Improvement of goat breeding
- Creation of an agricultural central market
- Development program for olive oil sector