As part of the Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD) project, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) granted olive farmers 318 mechanical harvesters that run on batteries. These mechanical harvesters, save time, decrease harvest costs by 50%, and guarantee stable production throughout the years. They protect olive trees from damage that occurs with traditional harvesting methods.
Olive oil cooperatives are leasing the mechanical harvesters to olive farmers for $20/day. The Chairman of the Olive Cooperative in Nabatieh, Hassan Salameh, said that each 1,000 sqm costs $360 if harvested by workers. This cost does not exceed $150 when harvested mechanically.
LIVCD, a $42M USAID-funded project, aims at improving economic stability, generating business opportunities, and creating jobs for the rural population, in particular for women and youth.
LIVCD Selected Activities
| Increase rural incomes, support rural employment, and expand export sales in processed foods, rural tourism, floriculture, grapes, olive oil, apples, pears, avocados, cherries, and a basket of rural agricultural products including thyme, pine nuts, honey, and free range eggs. |
| Build linkages between farmers, producers, input suppliers, processors, service providers, traders, transporters, retailers, packers, distributors, exporters, and ending with consumers. |
| Strengthen coalition of local actors to ensure that economic benefits from rural tourism remain in those communities. |
| Facilitate access to markets and to financing opportunities for rural actors through public-private partnerships and co-investments in order to increase income of the rural population and promote rural wealth creation. |
| Provide technical assistance to disseminate innovative agricultural practices and technologies and build capacities through customized training for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and farmers. |
Source: Business News