Water and livelihoods in the coastal and inner plain of Akkar, Lebanon.

Abstract

Recurrent claims about the demise of water resources in Lebanon have risen for the past eight of years, ever since the onset of the Syrian civil war. Numerous triggers were considered, ranging from the inadequate infrastructure to the lack of governmental support, or the sudden surge in population following the influx of Syrian refugees. Farmers are most affected by changes in water availability as their livelihoods are linked directly to agriculture – the prime utilizer of water resources. Relying on farmers’ perception and knowledge, the current thesis aims to assess the state of water resources in part of the agricultural plain of Akkar, Lebanon. A rapid rural appraisal method was used to collect data in the field over a period of seven days to identify current water resources management practices and their implication of water availability around the catchment of Arka and Ostuene. The Sustainable Livelihood Approach has allowed us to better analyze the livelihoods of farmers and its link to water management. Results have shown that surface water is not made available to farmers nor is it adequately used and managed, which means that farmers end-up resorting to groundwater pumping to irrigate their crops. The lack of proper monitoring, governmental services, and continuous market competition have proven to be some of the primary concerns highlighted by farmers in Akkar. Recommendations have thus been shaped based on community knowledge and designed in a way to fit various livelihood strategies.