Agricultural statistical system in Lebanon January 2014 Paris- France Lebanese Republic Ministry of Agriculture Agricultural market (mostly grain) information network in the Mediterranean region (AMIS MED) Kick off meeting

Existing

– Trade : Negative Balance Exports, (Million US$) Imports, (Million US$) – Total Surface Area (Km 2 ) – Population (Thousand) – GDP (Million US$) " Smallest country in the western part of Asia western

AGRICULTURE SECTOR FACTS Agriculture as % of Gross Domestic Product (2009) = 4.9% (vs. 5.8% in 2008) Employment in Agriculture (2004) = 7.5 % of Total Labor Force Agricultural Exports including agro-processed food (2010) = 518 million USD Value of Agricultural Exports as % of Total Exports (2010) = 12% Volume of Agricultural Exports = 844 thousand tons Agricultural Imports including agro-processed food (2010) = million USD Value of Agricultural Imports as % of Total Imports (2010) = 16% Volume of Agricultural Imports = thousand tons Total Cultivated Area (2009) = 275 thousand hectares

Wheat sector facts Wheat area (2013): dn (9600 Ha) Productivity : 5 tons/ha (irrigated) 3.25 tons/ha (rainfed) Wheat production (2013) :47000 Tons Imports: tons (80% of total demand) Bill of imports: $ (no customs fees)

Lebanon produce each year around Tonnes of wheat mainly durum wheat which equivalent to 17.7% of yearly consumption which is around Tonnes. Lebanon imports wheat from different countries mainly from Russia ( 75%) Kazaghstan (22%). Wheat sector facts

Office of cereals & sugar beet MOE Wheat farmers Storage Tons Mills 13 Wheat delivery system MOA international price Subsidized Price 22% tons Stocks for 2 months

Consumption The estimated consumption of wheat is around tonnes per year divided as follows: tonnes for baking, tonnes for flour type extra, tonnes for Burghul (durum wheat), tonnes for semolina tonnes for household consumption. - Wheat varieties in Lebanon are not suitable for bread baking. The local production of wheat is normally used in burghul making and part of it is exported.

Projected production and demand -Given that Lebanon has limited ability to produce wheat, imports will have to increase substantially to meet demand. -Lebanon population is expected to reach 5.33 million by 2050, a 70 % increase from 3,733,610 in Consumption per capita for Lebanon is expected to reach 130 kilos by 2050, while production is only expected to reach 80000Tonnes. -As a result, imports will have to reach MT in 2050 in order to fulfill domestic demand.

Gaps

Agricultural market monitoring system Efficiency ( Monitor cereals prices at regional level) Transparency Sustainability Link & coordination with other ministries Lack technical resources (Methodologies in data collection and dissemination )

Needs

Wheat cultivation storage Statistical database Interventions at the different cereals chain ( Mainly wheat)  Increase productivity (varieties)  Improve quality Improve storage facilities and conditions  installation of the already installed software's but not yet used  Improve methodologies  Increase number of qualified staff  Technical assistance  Related departments: statistics, marketing departments/ MOA and Office of cereals and sugar beet / MOE

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