Resource information
This Policy Note has three main
objectives : a) formulate strategic choices related to the
sustainability of irrigated agriculture in Lebanon. b)
recommend institutional strengthening of water resource
management in the irrigation sector in general, especially
for operations and maintenance (O&M). c) define the
Bank's future involvement in the irrigated agriculture
sector. As demand for domestic, industrial, and agriculture
water increases, Lebanon could face chronic water shortages
in the next two decades, particularly in the summer months.
In fact, signs of such shortages are already apparent, data
on water demand and water balance are conflicting, but they
generally indicate that the overall annual water balance
will practically go into deficit just after 2020, while the
dry season balance will be in deficit in 2004. In addition
to existing structural problems, the quality of existing
water resources is being undercut by pollution, such as,
direct discharges of municipal and industrial wastewater,
uncontrolled solid waste disposal, leaching of pesticides
and fertilizers from agricultural lands, and seawater
intrusion along the coast as a result of over exploiting
groundwater. Faced with this challenge, the Government of
Lebanon (GOL) has taken measures to enhance the
sustainability of water resources in the country, including
irrigation, which accounts for about two thirds of the
annual water use.
