Photo Essay

Agricultural infrastructure revamp transforms Lebanon, one greenhouse at a time

ILO-run greenhouse upgrade project supports farmers in boosting productivity and securing livelihoods amid economic challenges.

7 February 2025

Beqaa Valley, Lebanon– The ILO is committed to supporting horticulture farmers in Lebanon to enhance productivity and increase incomes, aiming to safeguard jobs for both farmers and workers in the sector.

Under the ILO PROSPECTS programme, 31 farmers in the Akkar and Beqaa governorates have upgraded their traditional greenhouses to multi-span ones with high-standing walls, openings, and insect nets over the past two years. This has significantly boosted their farm productivity and revenue.

Given the country’s ongoing financial and conflict crises, the cost of modern multi-span greenhouses remains prohibitive for many Lebanese farmers. To address this, the ILO, in partnership with the private sector, has subsidized the purchase of bi-tunnel multi-span greenhouses, enabling farmers to invest in high-productivity infrastructure. Select farmers, each owning no more than 50 existing greenhouses, accessed these subsidies, which covered up to 8,000USD per bi-tunnel greenhouse. Each farm was eligible for only one subsidized greenhouse.

Here, farmers and workers from the latest group benefiting from the initiative in the Beqaa region—one of the areas hardest hit by the recent conflict in Lebanon—share in their own words why investing in improved farming infrastructure is crucial for enhancing productivity and quality. Interest in multi-span greenhouses is growing, with more farmers inquiring about them, driving broader progress towards a more productive agricultural sector in the country.

Khalil Sassine, 51, sits inside his new bi-span greenhouse in Terbol, a town of 5,000 people where 70% of residents work in agriculture.

He said that the team that set up the new greenhouse has been extremely efficient and committed. The materials used were of top quality. “We installed it in the summer and had our first harvest by September. Despite 30 cm of snow in winter, the greenhouse has proven resistant. The biggest challenge is water accumulation, but the structure holds up well,” he said. Sassine explained that the benefits have been remarkable—higher production, fewer plant diseases, and better working conditions. “If more financial support were available, I’d definitely invest in additional greenhouses with even more technical features. The decrease in plant diseases has significantly reduced the need for chemicals, leading to healthier crops and major cost savings,” he said.

The new greenhouses have two spans, each eight meters wide and 41.5 meters long, with a minimum height of 3.5 meters. The framework is made of steel with a zinc coating to prevent rust, using tube pillars.

The covering material is polyethylene film. Ventilation is crucial, with at least two manually operated side openings. All openings are fitted with anti-insect mesh for protection.

The best models feature four-side aeration and roof ventilation, which enhances production and resistance to pests and diseases. Still, some farmers opted for simpler, more affordable versions with two-side aeration.

Agricultural worker Lama Attrash shows the double-door system of a newly installed greenhouse in the village of Terbol. This feature is crucial for preventing insects from entering, reducing plant diseases.

Attrash said working in this greenhouse is far more comfortable for workers like her. “Compared to traditional greenhouses, there’s no contest. In a standard setup, temperatures rise quickly, making conditions tough for us and increasing disease risk. Here, the temperature remains stable, improving working conditions.

Summers in the valley are scorching, but inside the greenhouse, it stays cooler than outside, allowing us to work comfortably in the early morning and late afternoon,” she said.

Farmer Khalil Sassine displays an image of his first Roman lettuce harvest from the new greenhouse.

“I generally prefer open-field farming because it’s faster, but this greenhouse is a game changer. It allows precise control over production, and the crops develop better—healthier and more robust. The inner temperature balance benefits crops like iceberg lettuce and cucumbers, helping their leaves develop better,” he said.

Sassine has two children, a daughter and a son. “Even though they may choose different careers, I want them to stay connected to agriculture. During school holidays, I bring them to the farm to observe the work, help out a little, and enjoy the experience. My son, in particular, loves accompanying me daily to monitor the tomato plants. He gets excited watching them grow and points out changes from one day to the next with laughter.”

A traditional greenhouse (L) is shown next to a newly installed bi-tunnel one (R) in the village of Terbol, Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley.

“In partnership with the ILO, we promoted the initiative among farmers and established double-span greenhouses across farms in Lebanon’s Akkar and Beqaa Valley,” said Lina Zgheib from Robinson Agri, a Lebanon-based producer of greenhouses and provider of agricultural and irrigation products since 1969.

“We worked with medium-sized farms, developing tailored solutions to meet their needs. Given Lebanon’s ongoing crises, many farmers faced financial difficulties and couldn’t afford modern greenhouses on their own. This initiative came at the right time, providing loans and grants that enabled them to invest in high-quality structures. Farmers report a 20–30% increase in yields compared to traditional greenhouses.

We hope to expand this collaborative effort to other regions, transforming Lebanon’s agricultural sector one greenhouse at a time," she said.

farmers inside an under construction greenhouse

Tony Rizkallah, 28, and his father Adel, 63, walk inside their newly installed greenhouse in Lebanon’s Bekaa. Tony studied business but now works alongside his father as a farmer, while his father comes from a long line of farmers who have owned this land for generations.

“Ten days ago, the new greenhouse was installed. It’s larger, more airy, more spacious, and fresher. Last year, I harvested tomatoes from the older greenhouses, but they were smaller and of lower quality. I expect better results from this new greenhouse. The technicians who installed it were excellent,” Tony said. “Before, people only cultivated crops in open fields. Having greenhouses allows you to grow year-round and increase production. But today, the greenhouse needs to be modern to meet the demands of our business.”

Agricultural worker Lama Attrash is seen preparing the soil for planting cucumber inside Tony and Adel Rizkallah’s greenhouse.

“Overall agricultural production in our farm is going well, but the market has been disrupted due to the economic crisis and the war,” Tony said. “The market determines the prices once we bring our produce, but the prices have been very volatile. Restaurants have also closed or reduced their operations during the conflict in Lebanon, which has been a big setback for us.”

Agricultural worker Mohammed Merhej walks past one of the side aerial openings of a newly installed bi-tunnel greenhouse in Riyak, Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley.

New greenhouse specifications are not one-size-fits-all. Each structure has been customized based on the farmer’s specific needs, regional requirements, and the area's microclimate. Engineers recommended additional features such as extra front openings, nets with specific mesh sizes, or water sprayers to prevent snow accumulation. These adjustments ensure that the greenhouse is optimized for the farmer’s unique conditions.

Farmer Khalil Sassine checks the growth of his agricultural production in the Beqaa Valley.

“We often discuss agricultural improvements with other farmers during our gatherings. Depending on the season, I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, iceberg, and red lollo. The overall improvement compared to a traditional greenhouse is about 80%—better working conditions, higher quality, and increased production,” he said.

“The recent war in Lebanon has been tough—prices fluctuated, the Beqaa region was under attack, and airstrikes reduced our working hours. Markets were disrupted, and demand dropped, especially in Beirut, where one of the largest wholesale markets shut down due to constant attacks. Hopefully, things will improve now."

Syrian and Lebanese agricultural workers walk inside a newly installed greenhouse in the village of Terbol, with typically two to three employed depending on the season and harvest. This farm employs one Lebanese woman and four Syrian workers, increasing to six during peak harvest periods.

All the farmers featured hired one or two additional workers after installing the new greenhouses, boosting employment and economic opportunities in the area.

farmer nurturing a plant inside greenhouse

Marwan Abbas, 45, is seen inside his newly installed greenhouse in the village of Ryak.

“I have about 13 dunums (13,000 square meters) of open-field farmland with a well nearby, but a farmer friend encouraged me to try this new system, explaining that while its production area is smaller than a field, its output is equivalent to five dunums (5,000 square meters) of open land. This is the first greenhouse of its kind in the area, attracting other farmers who are considering similar investments.

Loan-based initiatives like this are crucial for revitalizing Lebanon’s agricultural sector. My neighbour owns 100 dunums, but with this greenhouse, my yields would be higher—just as experienced farmers predicted when they convinced me to invest.

This is an agricultural region, and we need these projects. The land is essential to us—it always provides what we need to survive."

Farmer Tony Rizkallah stands beside his newly installed greenhouse. He and his father chose a model with a roof that opens via an external handle, making it ideal for preventing water buildup from snow in winter. “We are open to adding more greenhouses like this if loans were available,” he said.

“We cultivate about 100 dunums (100,000 square meters) of land, growing lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and kale. Our clients are mainly restaurants and large markets in Beirut, Byblos, and Saida. We also have 20 traditional greenhouses. I wasn’t aware of the latest greenhouse technology available in Lebanon, but if I had known, I would have adopted it earlier. This modern greenhouse simplifies work and enables year-round production by maintaining a stable temperature, which is beneficial for the plants. Still, without the loan, installing it wouldn’t have been possible.”

The initiative applied the ILO-UNHCR Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS) in forced displacement settings. As part of this effort, ILO PROSPECTS used data from a one-year pilot trial with 12 farmers, comparing productivity in traditional and modern greenhouses. It also integrated pre-crisis market insights from the horticulture sector to guarantee a highly adaptive approach to responds effectively to evolving conditions on the ground. Market-based solutions in times of crisis help build more sustainable and resilient structures. This approach is central to the humanitarian-development nexus, meeting immediate needs while addressing the context’s deeper structural challenges.