CEDARSplus program -
Expand Fruit Tree Production project

Duration
February 2006 - November 2007

Funding Partners
Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Implementing Partners
Agricultural Cooperatives throughout Lebanon.

Background
The cultivation of fruit crops constitutes a major component of the agriculture sector in Lebanon , covering around 84,300 hectares of agricultural lands. However, most of the existing orchards are old (ranging between 40 and 50 years of age) with low yield. Because of several factors such as low level of mechanization, small lots, lack of infrastructure, lack of diversity of varieties, and poor marketability of existing varieties, fruit tree production costs in Lebanon are quite high, resulting in a lack of ability to compete in foreign markets. Knowledge of climate, soils and growers are necessary to improve pome (apples and pears) and stone (fruits with a hard stony pit surrounded by a fleshy fruit) fruit production.

Description of the project
The project is part of the CEDARSplus program; it builds on the success of the plant nursery and the pilot project to introduce new varieties and harvest techniques, established under the Valorization of Arboriculture Growing project under the CEDARS program in Zghorta and Ehden.

The Project will expand these initiatives to cover other regions in Lebanon and to provide the opportunity for other Lebanese fruit growers to benefit from the introduction of new tree varieties and training related to best management practices. The objectives of the proposed project are to increase fruits productions in Lebanon to better meet consumers' demands on local and regional markets through the introduction of high yielding varieties and better fruit quality, diversifying fruit trees production and increase their production by adopting appropriate methods in pruning, fertilization, pest management, etc. In addition, CEDARSplus will establish a pilot warning station where different reading of temperatures and humidity will be recorded to forecast disease and pest occurrence. This information will be disseminated to the farmers via Short Message Service (SMS on mobile phones), radio stations, newspapers, and others.

Focus will be put on linking farmers to various services in post-harvest handling (cold storage units, sorting, and grading equipment) that will continue from CEDARS into CEDARS plus. The project will also link with the MOA through trained extension officers who provide assistance to fruit growers.

Expected Results
90,000 fruit trees provided to farmers all over Lebanon.
150 hectares of new fruit trees varieties planted.
400 fruit growers trained on new and improved agricultural management practices.
15 extension officers from Ministry of Agriculture trained on providing assistance to fruit growers.
400 farmers benefiting from awareness campaign on using improved varieties
Production costs of 400 fruit growers reduced by 50% as a result of accessing proper agricultural services.
Income of 400 fruit growers increase by 50% from planting new varieties of fruit trees.
30 new jobs created.
1,000 extension visits conducted to farmers.