The dairy sector is a major source of income for rural communities in Lebanon, but the sector is facing major challenges, including the country’s economic crisis and the impact of the Russian war on Ukraine, forcing many smallholder farmers to abandon their farms. Other farmers struggle to keep their farms operational, with a very small margin of profit, if any. The devaluation of local currency has led to a significant increase in feed and diesel costs, both of which represent major costs for farmers. The cost of veterinary supplies must be paid in U.S. currency, which is hard to come by. In particular, 2022 was a catastrophic year for the dairy sector in Lebanon. Farmers weren’t able to afford high-quality feed and veterinary supplies, which decreased their milk production. Dairy processors, in turn, received smaller quantities of lower quality milk, negatively affecting the production of dairy products and increasing the final cost of these products to Lebanese consumers. 

In response to these challenges, the Farmer-to-Farmer Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) Program brought in three experts in dairy production: Dr. Archie Devore, dairy nutrition and management expert; Mr. Gary Geisler, dairy calf health expert; and Mr. Arvid Fristad, farm management and hygiene expert. They volunteered their time and conducted field visits to several dairy farms in Bekaa, North, South and Mount Lebanon, major input suppliers, veterinary services, feed mills, and local universities. Based on their findings, they provided recommendations for Lebanon’s dairy sector to spur growth. These three takeaways summarize the common threads from their findings.  

1. Use Open-Source Tools for Better Feed Rationing

The experts recommended helping farmers formulate balanced feed rations to increase milk quantities and adopt better farm management practices to improve milk quality. Following their assessment, the experts advised implementers of development programs to focus support on feed producers, training them on developing high-quality, locally produced corn silage and assisting feed formulators in creating high-quality feed rations. This could especially benefit small farmers that lack the capacity to formulate their own rations. They also recommended promoting the use of open-source tools for better feed rationing and training producers on using them as a sustainable tool of support. The experts assessed the available feed quality through site visits to the main feed producers in the country. High-quality texturized calf starter feed is locally produced, but more efforts are needed to promote this type of feed to all farmers as it increases growth and leads to healthier calves, and eventually reduces the need for imported heifers, keeping dollars in Lebanon. The experts also recommended that the industry should encourage more farmers to produce alfalfa and corn for silage to substitute dairy feed import. 

2. Host Training Sessions on Farm Management and Milk Quality

Secondly, the experts stressed that the industry requires more extensive training to help farmers understand the importance of adopting better cleaning practices for the milking equipment and milk tanks, particularly on small farms. This would improve milk quality and help them gain a higher premium for their milk. Milk collection centers should also improve their practices to preserve the quality of milk, while developing price incentives for premium-quality milk by implementing an antibiotic program followed by a somatic cell count (SCC) premium program, as it is an important indicator of udder health. The higher the SCC, the lower the cheese yield. This would need to be introduced gradually and backed up with scientific data. 

Lebanon has continuous electricity challenges, as many countries do. A variable speed drive pump for the milking machines would lead to significant energy savings by regulating the speed of the pump based on the actual need, paired with adoption of better on-farm hygiene practices through good management of the animals at the farm and increasing the sanitation practices at the milk parlors. This would significantly improve the quality of milk reaching the dairy processors. Even better would be relying on solar/wind energy. 

3. Partner with Local Universities

Students graduating from Lebanese universities are enthusiastic and eager to learn, but they have few opportunities for practical experience. The experts stressed that youth engagement should currently be a high priority for the country’s dairy sector — there are many young experts from local universities struggling to find jobs despite their expertise in the sector. More support is needed for local universities to offer hands-on training and provide services to the dairy and livestock industries. This will increase the students’ experience and improve their chances in the local job market, preventing the phenomenon of brain drain from the local economy. In line with this recommendation, the Farmer-to-Farmer program provided important opportunities for graduate students to gain hands-on experience mentored by the program’s volunteer experts. Increasing the skills of young professionals will improve productivity and income, especially for smallholder farmers.

As we look back on Agrilinks’ Livestock theme month, we must remember the critical role the livestock sector plays in sustainable economic growth and food security. In many low- and middle-income economies, the livestock sector boosts GDP and is especially beneficial to rural populations — Lebanon is a case in point. With these recommendations, the Farmer-to-Farmer FSQ program hopes to incorporate them in the development of future USAID programs and empower local partners to assist in adopting them. 

For more detailed recommendations from Farmer-to-Farmer experts, view the full Lebanon Dairy Report here.