Already struggling with limited water resources and land degradation, farmers in Lebanon are likely to face additional challenges coping with the effects of climate change.
This could include repeats of the unprecedented winter storm that hit the country in January, destroying millions of dollars worth of crops and killing valuable livestock.
In the aftermath of the storm, farmers sounded the alarm over the future conditions of this vulnerable sector.
The storm was a manifestation of extreme weather conditions that are projected to increase in the coming years.
According to a 2011 Environment Ministry report, rainfall could decrease 20 percent by 2040, while temperatures could rise 2 percent; a combination that would reduce soil moisture, increase aridity and in turn lessen the overall yield of crops.
Climate change is expected to cause a decrease in productivity for most of the crops and fruit trees as well as increased instances of fungi infestation and bacterial diseases.
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