Anjar: People and LandNanor Momjian, Jihan Hashisho, Moustapha Itani

Methodology Literature Survey Field visits Analysis of SLA outcome Problem Tree Analysis

PROFILE Anjar (Haoush Mousa) Mohafazat of Biqaa 58 Km from Beirut Average elevation of 950masl The historic “city” of Anjar built during the Reign of

Omayyad.

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Physical Capital Residential Area: six neighborhoods (after Mousa

Dagh) Cultivated Lands: Both cultivated lands and orchards

of Anjar. ◦ Water rich: receive naturally flowing water through canals

designed to channel the water from the springs of Anjar and Chamsine

◦ Water poor: at a higher elevation, no natural flow, ther wells are used.

Each Anjarian was given◦ 7000 m2 water-rich”◦ 4000m2 “water poor”◦ 400 m2 of lands

This distribution was given with a contract that forbids the Armenians to sell their lands before five years.

Physical Capital

Physical Capital Ruins: The historic “city” of Anjar Transportation and Communication: village is not

isolated because of pavement problems or other road issues

Energy: few hours of electricity per day Advances in agriculture: technology, new

pesticides, organic agriculture.

Physical Capital

Residential Area

Water Rich Lands

Water Poor Lands

Ommayad Ruins

Physical Capital

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Financial CapitalLow-interest loans from banks, to

recover from one year’s

loss.

No subsidy from the

government and if 10-20% of the

loss

Organizations for

Anjarians abroad (US, France) for

funds of projects

Very few of the migrants

provide financial inflow to

their families

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Natural Capital Water resources: Anjar spring and Chamsine spring

◦ Anjar’s water quality and quantity◦ During drought seasons, the committees (2008-2009)

Biodiversity and wildlife: ◦ Birds have decreased due to chemicals and hunting, and

maybe due to climate change◦ Aquaculture

Natural Capital

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Human Capital Local knowledge of the older generations New changed new type of diseases and pests

education of the new generation Two major migration events Population: Current estimates: 2500-3000 voting

records are 7000 Health: 70 or 80 year old men still work in the field, get

help from women labors from nomadic tribes or Syrians. Some of the new generation Anjarians are involved in

part time jobs along the agriculture work. New generation with full time non-agriculture jobs, help

their parents or neighbors during harvesting or pesticide spraying time.

Role of Women: help in the field and prepare provisions

Human Capital

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Social Capital

• Armenian Apostolic

• Armenian Catholic

• Armenian Protestant

• Irrigational water• Potable water

• Agriculture• Aquaculture• Farming• Consumptio

n

• ruling party in the village (members, or affiliated)

ARF and its social and cultural groups 4

cooperatives, before Civil war

3 churches

2 committees hantsnakhou

mp

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Policies and Institutions: Local Policies:

◦ The municipality in collaboration with ARF, and other sub-committees, with the assistance of the churches govern most aspects of the village.

◦ Many of the internal problems are solved through them, without the need to allow national governmental interference into the affairs.

◦ unwritten laws, agreements, norms, traditions, the system is quiet successful so far

National Policies:◦ Anjar’s municipality is part of a larger committee that

includes most the Biqaa villages. Regional Policies:

◦ Lebanon has signed to the Arab free trade agreement

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Livelihood Outcomes More income Increased well-being Reduced vulnerability Food-security Passion to their land and agriculture

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Vulnerability Context

Some pests which become a seasonal problem, can cause a financial shock, however, it can also become a trend caused by climatic change.

A couple of years ago, only little snowfall caused large numbers of mice to breed and destroy the roots of the crops, hence financial loss.

Some changes are becoming a trend they need to learn how to cope with

The market demand, the market prices, and the seasonal agricultural products of neighboring villages

Shocks

Trends

Seasons

Livelihood Capital Assets

Human

Social

Physical

Financial

Natural

Vulnerability Context

Shocks Trends Seasons

Livelihood Strategies

Policies & Institutions (Transforming Structures & Processes)

Structures- Government- Private Sector

Processes- Laws- Policies- Culture- Institutions

Livelihood Outcomes

+ Sustainable use of NR base + Income + Well-being - Vulnerability + Food security

SLA

Livelihood strategies Extensification:

◦ Villagers that do not have lands large enough rent more land from other villagers.

Diversification◦ They have introduced many varieties of the same fruit◦ Introduced the citrus type of fruits and some exotic types◦ Vegetables, grow faster and hence provide a “Fast track”

income.

Livelihood strategies

Livelihood strategies Agriculture as a part time job. This allows them to be

less vulnerable to seasonal variation of agricultural income.

The Attachment of the Land

Vulnerability Context

Decline Of TheHuman Capital

•Shift to other industries•Away from the agriculture (traditions)• Away from attachment

•Loss of the uniqueness of Anjar•Loss of information sources•The village getting “older”

•No market for the products• Competition with imported products

•Risky industry• Seasonal changes• Pests and other diseases

•Not a sufficient source of income•No governmental subsidy•Climatic changes

Problem Tree Analysis

Recommendations What is being done

◦ The municipality currently has a project to renovate the ruins, and try to provide more opportunities for the villagers from the tourism sector.

◦ The municipality has also other projects to support ecotourism; however, an advanced system and plan are not set yet.

The mayor is positive that such a project would provide opportunities for young generation Anjarians.

Encourage them to stay, even if not in the agriculture sector.

The enthusiasm of Anjarians and their work in a professional and organized manner is very important, nevertheless, this paper suggests other solutions to support the agriculture sector.

Recommendations (Cnt’d) What is proposed to be done It is necessary to decrease the cost of the Lebanese

products, or increase the value of the products. A well organized and centralized body for the Biqaa

villages to distribute a specific product to specific village considering◦ The financial revenue◦ The suitability of that product in that location.

Increasing the services in Anjar, Good schools and universities in the adjacency of the village.

Scholarships can be granted only in specific majors with condition of returning to “homeland”.

Encouraging training in educational programs in aquaculture, to learn aquaculture practices in real life.

Recommendations (Cnt’d) What is proposed to be done Trainings in villages, for the anjarian to be exposed to

modern agricultural techniques. Voluntary programs should be encouraged, through

which the volunteer would learn about Anjar, while the Anjarian would have the opportunity to sell or market some local goods.

Labeling specific local products. Agricultural industries is a very practical solution for

Anjar; not to sell the raw products insure a better income.

Ecotourism◦ Labels of the types of indigenous birds, plants and other

products◦ Handpicking fruits or vegetables; hence, the farmer

would save on the labor cost, and the products will be sold as a retail level

THANK YOU