Apple Harvesting Campaign 2007

Duration of the project
October-November 2007

Partners
Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Universite Saint Esprit - Kaslik (USEK)

Geographic areas covered by the project
The 4 Caza of Zgharta, Deir Al Ahmar, Becharreh and Keserwan.

Description
As part of the programs funded by the USAID, RMF and CHF implemented the “Apple Harvesting Aid program” to assist the growers in harvesting their orchards and provide quick-impact cash for work opportunities. The project was implemented for the second consecutive year, building on its remarkable success in 2006. The project benefited 1096 growers from 22 villages.
The campaign was launched during a press conference conducted by Mr. Michel Moawad at the agricultural centre of the North-Mejdlaya (CAN) in the presence of Mr. Bill Grant (the deputy of the American Ambassador in Lebanon), Mr. Stephan Herbaly (USAID vice-director), Engineer Ayman Abdallah (CHF director) and Mr. Nabil Moawad (RMF agricultural sector director) in addition to agricultural cooperatives and more than 100 farmers and workers from several regions.
On October 23, 2007 the US Ambassador in Lebanon Mr. Jeffrey Feltman conducted a field visit to the apples orchards at Ehden where harvesting activities under the project were ongoing. He met the head of the agricultural cooperatives, the growers and the workers.

The goals of the project
to support the farmers by finding man power for harvest and helping them in marketing the produce.
to train local unskilled workers and students on proper harvest and post-harvest methods, and thus in the future not depend anymore on foreign man power.
to create jobs for unskilled workers, school and university students, and agricultural engineers.

The campaign billboards

Details of the project
The first steps was to train unskilled workers, students and freshly graduated agricultural engineers on apple harvest and post-harvest activities.
The trained people were later employed to harvest the produce of around 1000 farmers in the villages covered by the project.
The freshly graduated agricultural engineers supervising the work were graduates from USEK university, chosen and contacted by the university's administration.
The produce was then packaged and stored for free at the cold storage units in the Agricultural Center of the North.
The project helped the farmers in marketing and selling the produce via the existing Agricultural Central Market project part of the CEDARSplus program, run by RMF in partnership with CHF and USAID.
At the end of the project, the total number of apple cases harvested was 248,970 covering 127.8123 Ha

Beneficiaries                          
Unskilled workers:
The number of workers benefiting from the project reached 3,312 workers (majority were students) from 191 villages. (16,591 person days at L.L.24,000/person/day generating a total income of L.L.398, 184,000). Women working in harvesting activities constituted 34% of the total number of workers, noting that they showed almost the same competence as males.
Supervisors:
In order to survey the work and cooperate in between the foundation, the workers and the growers, students from different universities were employed. The total number of supervisors recruited was 61 supervisors from 26 villages. (941 person days at L.L. 37,500/person/day generating a total income of L.L. 35,287,500)
Freshly graduated agricultural engineers:
The project had benefited as well, and for the second time the students of agricultural sciences in USEK University. They were trained on harvest and post harvest practices, and acquired new technical skills , this in addition to the pocket money they earned by their first agricultural temporary job. The total number of future agricultural engineers recruited was 19 (165 person days at L.L.45,000/person/day generating a total income of L.L. 7,425,000)
Coordinators:
In each of the four Caza (Zgharta, Deir Al Ahmar, Becharreh, Keserwan), an office of coordination has been created, hiring thus 14 university students.
Drivers:
Transportation of the workers to the field had created jobs for 66 bus drivers from 28 villages (591 person/day), in addition to 5 trucks used for the transportation of the equipments used for harvesting (picking baskets, steps…).
Accounting/Administrative Work:
To manage the accounting and administrative works, fresh graduated and university students were employed, in addition to 3 bookkeepers from 3 villages (63 person/day) and 9 university students hired for data entry from 5 villages (447 person/day)

Photos:


From the Campaign launching meeting

U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman's field visit

Mr. Jeffrey Feltman inside an orchad in Ehden

All at work!

From hand to hand...

With care and joy...

He is 96...
Traditions in dress, pride, heart and mustache!

The packing team

Crates ready to be transported