Saving Water, Growing Crops Project in Lebanon

"Saving Water, Growing Crops” project was developed in response to a combination of environmental, economic, and agricultural challenges that directly threatened water security and agricultural sustainability in the area.

1.Climate Change and Water Scarcity: Increasing temperatures, reduced rainfall, and prolonged droughts have intensified water scarcity, especially in upland and semi-arid zones. The dependence on traditional surface irrigation systems resulted in significant water losses through evaporation and runoff, further stressing limited freshwater resources.

2. Economic Crisis and Energy Constraints: The national economic collapse severely affected the availability and affordability of fuel, leading to frequent irrigation interruptions. Farmers struggled to operate diesel-powered pumps, making water delivery unreliable.

3. Degraded Soils and Unsustainable Agricultural Practices: Continuous use of surface irrigation and poor land management practices accelerated soil erosion and nutrient loss, particularly on sloped lands. Over time, this led to declining soil fertility and reduced water retention capacity.

 “Saving Water, Growing Crops” demonstrator was designed as a WEFE-oriented intervention that initially targeted three core dimensions of the nexus—Water, Food, and Ecosystems—with Energy incorporated at a later stage in response to emerging needs during project implementation.

The envisioned solution centered on introducing an innovative, remote-controlled drip irrigation system equipped with soil moisture sensors and a local weather station. This technology was selected to optimize water application according to real-time crop needs, significantly reduce water losses, and minimize soil erosion, thereby supporting both food production and ecosystem protection within the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR). The project further included the enhancement of runoff collection infrastructure to increase the use of green water and reduce dependency on blue water resources.

Although energy efficiency was not an initial priority, the severe fuel shortages associated with Lebanon’s economic crisis highlighted the necessity of integrating a photovoltaic energy system. This addition ensured reliable power for pumping water from the well during irrigation seasons, completing the fourth component of the WEFE nexus and strengthening overall system resilience.

The project was developed and refined through consultations with key stakeholders, including local farmers, the municipality, technical partners, and environmental organizations operating in the SBR. These consultations were essential for aligning priorities, validating the technological approach, and ensuring community ownership of the intervention.

The envisioned timeline included short-term goals, such as installing and testing the irrigation system, training farmers, and collecting baseline and comparative data from control areas. The long-term goals focused on achieving sustained reductions in water and energy consumption, improving crop productivity, enhancing soil and ecosystem health, and building the adaptive capacity of local communities to withstand climate-induced water scarcity.

In essence, the project evolved into a fully integrated WEFE demonstrator, with each dimension reinforcing the others to create a more resilient and resource-efficient agricultural system.

“Saving Water, Growing Crops” project implemented a combination of technical and “soft” interventions to address the water, energy, food, and ecosystem challenges in the target agricultural areas of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR).

Technical Systems Implemented (WEFE-oriented)

1. Remote-Controlled Drip Irrigation System: Installed over approximately 29 hectares of farmland, connected to real-time soil moisture sensors and an on-site weather station to optimize water application according to crop needs.
2. Multi-Parameter Monitoring Device: Integrated into the irrigation system to enable precision water management.
3. Water Storage Infrastructure: Restoration of a 1,400 and  7,500 m³ pond and enhancement of the catchment area to secure water supply.
4. Photovoltaic Energy System: Introduced to power irrigation pumps sustainably, addressing fuel shortages and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Soft Interventions

• Technical and Governance Training: 126 participants including Municipality staff, ACS and ACE technical teams, Water Committee members, and Mrusti cooperative members were trained on system operation, maintenance, and good governance practices.
• Irrigation Management Training: Focused on efficient water use, scheduling, and monitoring via the innovative irrigation solution.
• Workshops and Knowledge Exchange: Organized national and regional workshops, thematic events, and exchanges between universities, research institutes, and international farmers’ associations to disseminate best practices.
• Communication and Awareness: Developed a communication plan, technical paper, and dissemination materials targeting farmers, institutions, and the public. Participated in trade fairs, agricultural events, and international days to promote the solution.

Implementation Sequence

1. Planning and Design: Developed the technical design of the irrigation scheme and secured necessary authorizations.
2. Data and Software Setup: Consolidated baseline data to configure the software for precision irrigation.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation: Participatory M&E plan was established with indicators to assess system performance and impact.
4. Water Infrastructure Restoration: Restored the pond and improved the catchment.
5. Installation of Irrigation System and Monitoring Devices: Deployed the drip irrigation and multi-parameter monitoring system.
6. Energy Integration: Added photovoltaic pumping to ensure reliable and sustainable operation.
7. Capacity Building: Conducted training for staff and farmers on system operation and water management.
8. Knowledge Dissemination and Awareness: Organized workshops, exchanges, and communication campaigns.

In total, 92 farmers directly benefited from the interventions, with 126 participants receiving technical and governance training. The integrated approach ensured that water savings, energy efficiency, crop productivity, and ecosystem protection were addressed in a coordinated manner, progressively enhancing resilience across the WEFE nexus.

The intervention explicitly targets all four dimensions of the WEFE Nexus:

• Water: Reduce freshwater consumption through precision irrigation (47% water savings per hectare).
• Energy: Replace diesel-powered pumps with photovoltaic systems, ensuring sustainable water delivery while reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions by 57% per hectare.
• Food: Maintain and stabilize crop yields, ensuring food security despite reduced water input.
• Ecosystems: Enhance the catchment area, increasing runoff collection in the hill lake by 150–200% and reducing soil erosion through sustainable land management practices.

The project objectives were fully achieved, with the innovative irrigation system successfully implemented and operational across the target area. Although it was not possible to directly measure the impact on crop production due to weather-induced deflowering and reduced yield, observations of larger fruit sizes and vigorous tree shoots confirmed the effectiveness of water delivery and proper irrigation management.

Beyond the immediate technical results, the project generated broader impacts on capacity building and knowledge sharing. A total of 126 participants—including municipal staff, technical teams, Water Committee members, and farmers—received training on precision irrigation, water governance, and ecosystem-friendly agricultural practices. The project also fostered multi-stakeholder collaboration among local institutions, research organizations, and international partners, providing a model for integrated WEFE approaches. While it did not directly create new regulations or national policies, the demonstrator contributed valuable technical evidence and best practices that can inform future policy development and strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable water and agricultural management at the local and regional levels.

“Saving Water, Growing Crops” demonstrator provided several important lessons in terms of sustainability, scalability, and replicability within the WEFE Nexus framework. The project’s participatory design approach, involving local farmers, municipalities, and technical partners, proved critical for ensuring community ownership and long-term sustainability. The establishment of a local Water Committee with engaged focal persons strengthened local governance, oversight, and maintenance of the irrigation system. Additionally, the integration of real-time monitoring tools highlighted the relevance of timely data for optimizing water delivery, improving efficiency, and reducing resource waste.

For scaling up or replicating the initiative, several factors are key. The growing accessibility and affordability of smart IoT devices make precision irrigation increasingly viable across other regions. To reduce cost and complexity, this technology is particularly suitable for small farms coordinated at a municipal level or large farms with low agronomic variability, and it can be effectively combined with innovative agronomic practices such as soil conservation techniques, crop rotation, or water-smart cropping systems.

The demonstrator also provides valuable lessons for other countries: participatory planning, integrated water-energy-food-ecosystem approaches, and locally adapted governance structures are essential for replicating WEFE Nexus solutions. Finally, the project demonstrated that data-driven, technology-based interventions can significantly enhance agricultural resilience and resource efficiency, offering a scalable model for improving water management, productivity, and ecosystem conservation in semi-arid and resource-constrained contexts.