Minister of Agriculture Abbas Mortada, represented by the Head of the Agriculture Department in the North, Mohammad Iqbal Zayadeh, attended the graduation ceremony of 50 trainees who participated in the agricultural extension course organized by the Youth Dialogue Association in Dinnieh over 18 days at the headquarters of the Dinnieh Union of Municipalities.
The course was part of the Local Governments Enhancement Program in the Mediterranean Region, organized by the Mediterranean Cities Network in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer Center – Al-Fayhaa, with support from the Government of Catalonia, the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation, Barcelona Urban Organization, and the Dinnieh Union of Municipalities.
Attending the ceremony alongside Zayadeh were Rola Al-Bayeh, the acting district commissioner of Minieh–Dinnieh, Mohammad Saadieh, President of the Dinnieh Union of Municipalities, Abdullah Abdel Wahhab, Director of the Knowledge Transfer Center in the Al-Fayhaa Union of Municipalities, as well as several mayors and participants of the course.
Saadieh
The event began with welcoming remarks by the host, Manar Obeid, followed by a speech from Saadieh, who described the course as “a valuable developmental initiative organized in cooperation with our partners in the Mediterranean Cities Network, with whom we have implemented vital and beneficial projects.”
He added:
“This agricultural extension course is one of the most important training programs we have organized. It was supervised by specialists with significant expertise, and the trainees have certainly benefited from it to improve their work and increase their productivity. They are now capable of producing agricultural medicines and pesticides using home-based materials that support their farming activities.”
Saadieh promised:
“We will continue our developmental efforts with our partners in the Mediterranean Cities Network and in Barcelona, especially in a region that is thirsty for useful agricultural knowledge and scientific guidance.”
He pointed out that the Dinnieh Union of Municipalities has now “graduated more than 1,700 trainees in various fields through training courses and workshops,” noting that the Union is preparing a hall that can accommodate about 250 people and will be completed within a month.
He added that they have also established the Dinnieh Center for Sustainable Development to serve as a hub for local entrepreneurs, offering free support, as well as a health center operating 24/7 under the supervision of a specialized medical team.
Kanal
The Secretary-General of the Mediterranean Cities Network, Josep Kanal, delivered a speech via live video, thanking all those who contributed to the success of the course in Lebanon, “a country facing challenges that impose new difficulties—especially for municipalities, which are closest to people’s needs.”
He stressed that agricultural training and similar activities are essential for the Dinnieh region because they “stimulate the economic cycle, develop skills, and enhance self-sufficiency without relying on external support.”
Kanal praised the course and the trainees, saying it encourages the continuation of such activities to ensure sustainability in supporting the agricultural sector, making it more productive and capable of preserving the land through low-cost local initiatives.
He also commended the role of the Dinnieh Union of Municipalities in local development, expressing hope to visit Lebanon soon.
Al-Bayeh
Al-Bayeh delivered a speech praising the Union of Municipalities “for keeping its doors open to various activities, including this important one.”
She added:
“We are going through difficult times and we need to support young people to work in agriculture. I call on the Ministry of Agriculture to help farmers acquire fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds, and to provide them with expertise—so that Lebanese farmers can remain on their land, just as we must support industrialists to remain in this country and contribute to its growth instead of pushing our youth toward migration.”
She highlighted that the participation of young people in the course is a positive indicator, showing that there are groups eager to work, produce, overcome challenges, develop themselves, and contribute to building the nation rather than succumbing to despair.
Naddah
Trainee Khaled Naddah delivered the graduates’ speech, thanking the organizers and everyone who contributed to the success of the course and to providing “valuable knowledge to a deprived region whose land is fertile and rich in water from springs and rivers, yet unfortunately much of this water is wasted.”
He expressed hope that this project would not be the last, given the struggles faced by the agricultural sector and the neglect of farmers by the state.
Aoun
Sandra Aoun, representing the Youth Dialogue Association in Dinnieh, noted that the course lasted 18 days, during which 56 farmers were trained in agricultural basics, common challenges, and practical solutions.
The course included theoretical lectures followed by practical field training, an introduction to agricultural marketing, and an overview of urban agriculture, including how to implement and activate it and the essential role of local authorities in such projects.
Zayadeh
Mohammad Iqbal Zayadeh, delivering the speech on behalf of Minister Abbas Mortada, said:
“The Minister honored me by entrusting me to represent him at this ceremony, as he was unable to attend due to prior commitments. Today we witness the conclusion of a project supporting the agricultural sector in Dinnieh—a region that has long suffered neglect. It is one of the most important extension projects supporting farmers in Dinnieh’s villages, enhancing the agricultural sector, increasing production, and improving marketing.”
He added:
“We all know that Dinnieh is one of the regions that relies heavily on agriculture to meet its needs. In today’s economic crisis, we cling to any opportunity that helps support citizens and sustain production. We are working diligently to facilitate land reclamation, build water ponds and reservoirs, and provide essential agricultural materials and seeds to help farmers overcome this crisis.”
He called on all municipalities and unions in Lebanon to cooperate with the ministry as the Dinnieh Union has done, vowing continuous support for farmers to prevent the collapse of the agricultural sector and preserve Lebanon’s plant, animal, and forest resources.
Zayadeh also noted the severe economic and financial crisis facing the country, which has limited the ministry’s ability to support farmers.
He confirmed that during a recent meeting between Minister Mortada and Saadieh, several areas of possible cooperation were discussed, especially establishing a research center and soil analysis laboratory for the region. He expressed hope that this promise would soon be fulfilled.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of cooperation between ministries, municipalities, and unions to overcome the current difficulties, noting that the minister will soon visit the region to inaugurate several important agricultural projects.
