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Syria Crisis - Beyond the Borders

Perspectives #3 - Hassan’s Story

April 2^nd, 2014

Akkar, Lebanon

This agricultural area in northern Lebanon relies heavily on exporting its products. When the conflict in Syria closed off trade routes, farmers like Hassan Awad suffered immensely.

With support from donors, UNDP has set up a farmers’ cooperative to help increase productivity. “Before it was hard”, says Hassan. “When UNDP built this nursery, the planting and everything improved.“

“We used to plant outside, but it would never work. In here, it works very well.”

UNDP Lebanon Country Director Luca Renda explains the project. “Farmers can bring here the seeds. The seeds are treated here and grown in a very clean healthy environment and when they get their seeds back, they get plants that are of a very high quality. They can then sell the plants at a better price and increase their production.”

Syrian refugees who have settled here also benefit from the project, which forms part of UNDP’s vital work supporting neighbouring countries who host more than 2.5 million people that have fled the violence. www.undp.org