Lebanon trains agriculture extension agents to boost sustainable chickpea production

Organized by FAO, the training brought together more than 26 agricultural engineers and extension officers from Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture. The workshop is part of FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, which helps countries in promoting sustainable value chain development of priority agricultural products around the world.

Led by Dr Rola El Amil, the Head of LARI’s Department of Plant Breeding, the training focused on good agricultural practices for chickpea crop management  - a key crop for Lebanon's food security and rural economy.

Ministry of Agriculture staff participating in the training. ©FAO

Participants gained knowledge and practical training on various aspects of chickpea management, including crop taxonomy, morphology, and growth stages. Sessions covered integrated pest and disease management, fertilization and weed control strategies, and climate-smart irrigation techniques to improve productivity and resilience. The training also introduced participants to national seed certification systems and highlighted the role of informal seed networks in supporting smallholder farmers.

"This training provided us with the necessary knowledge on good agricultural practices for chickpea crop management, which will help us guide farmers toward more sustainable and efficient chickpea production," said one of the participants.

The workshop participants emphasized the impact on their work with local farmers. 

Participants observed trials of new chickpea varieties (left) and explored post-harvest processing technologies at LARI (right). ©FAO

The workshop included a field visit to LARI’s demonstration plots, where participants observed new chickpea varieties under trial and explored post-harvest processing technologies.

This capacity-building initiative supports Lebanon’s national goal to produce 40 percent of its chickpea needs locally by 2030—a target that aligns with broader efforts to strengthen food self-sufficiency, improve rural livelihoods, and build climate-resilient agrifood systems.

Although Lebanon has suitable land and climate for chickpea production, the country relies heavily on imports to meet growing demand for this dietary staple. Local farmers face several obstacles, including limited access to high-quality seeds, insufficient storage infrastructure, and restricted market opportunities. These challenges contribute to high crop losses and low profitability, hindering domestic production. 

Supported by the OCOP initiative in Lebanon through a FAO global project funded by the Flexible Voluntary Contribution, Lebanon is taking measures to address these issues by promoting sustainable practices and improving access to quality seeds, ultimately aiming to scale up chickpea cultivation in the country.