THE EFFECT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) ON AGRARIAN LIVELIHOODS IN NORTHEAST BAALBECK

Abstract

Agriculture in Lebanon is facing severe and considerable challenges ranging from generic ones associated with the lack of supporting functions and regulations, going in deep intro specific one from each and every specialized agriculture area. The northeast Bekaa Area consists of a border and marginalized area famous with its semi-arid climate and its remoteness from the market making it witnessing specific challenges. The intended study took place in the seven villages (Qaa, Ras Baalbeck, Fakiha, Al Ain, Nabi Othman Labwe and Arsal) of the Northeast Bekaa Areas, taken as sample of the remote villages in the area. The study aimed to describe the main challenges facing farmers in the area, starting from the lack of extension services going into the impact of Syrian crisis and the financial crisis of October 2019. In addition, the research team has used a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection method in order to figure out the real situation and to find out the most suitable customized ICT tool considered as problem solving for the area. The research team conducted a set of 100 questionnaire resulted in the description of the area demographics, the capacity of the area to withstand an advanced information and communication technologies and the definition of main stakeholders of the area. Several key informants’ interviews KIIs has been conducted with public and private stakeholders and two focus groups with farmers. Based on all of the above, the study was able to define the main problems facing the ICT tools operators and the farmer’s non trust and collaboration with those operators from one side in addition to other constraints of non-suitability of initiatives applied before. Finally, all respondents from the top to the bottom and based on a participatory approach agreed on the need of one tool relying on existing social communication and joining the experts, the service providers with the farmers under the supervision of NGOs and responsible governmental representative as audit agent to avoid the profit generation-oriented behavior or the provision and allow the fair competition between service providers in the favor of the farmers and the agriculture in the area.