Farming System Analysis of Drylands Agriculture in Lebanon: An Analysis of Sustainability

Agriculture in Lebanon is mainly rainfed and severely constrained by limited natural resources. Through centuries, local farmers have developed time-tested strategies to mitigate the impacts of drought and save natural resources. There are now indications that the once sustainable dryland farming systems are undergoing drastic changes. The study was undertaken to understand these recent drastic changes and their repercussions on the natural resource base in a Lebanese highland village in transition from a traditional agropastoral system to rainfed stone fruit production. Marginal lands are increasingly used in crop production and becoming less available to livestock grazing. As a result, traditional agropastoral systems are developing into more sedentary systems constrained by shrinking rangelands and limited feed availability.