Introduction:
Lebanon is contending with the effects of its worst drought in decades, having received roughly half its typical annual rainfall to date. This has led to record-low inflows to lakes and reservoirs, water rationing, and widespread groundwater stress. These developments have taken a particularly heavy toll on the agricultural sector, including marked increases in soil salinity and water sodicity, factors that reduce both crop quality and yields.
Government and humanitarian partners have launched awareness campaigns and a drought response plan, but their usefulness is limited by the lack of a formal drought declaration system, insufficient funding for large-scale water sustainability projects, and inefficiencies in Lebanon’s water distribution network. Farmers have adapted where possible – as evidenced by the rapid expansion of drip systems, deficit irrigation, reductions in the size of cultivated areas, and smart irrigation tools – though these measures often are taken at the expense of efficiency and can add considerable monetary cost.
This paper assesses the impacts of drought on Lebanon’s agriculture sector by examining coping strategies adopted by farmers and agri-businesses. It first offers an overview of Lebanon’s water resources and agricultural use; examines the magnitude of the 2025 drought, its impacts on agriculture and the environment, and the adaptation strategies employed by farmers; and concludes with recommendations to guide more systematic and effective drought management.
By Crisis Analytics Team, Mercy Corps Lebanon
