Start-up support for women entrepreneurs in agricultural production

"I used to knead and shape the dough by hand. I only had a small gas stove, which limited my work," reports Jacqueline Raad. The 52-year-old from the village of Kobayat, in the Akkar region in the north of Lebanon, produces baked goods and confectionery that her customers collect directly from her home. The mother of three earns around 200 dollars a month from her business. With this income, she supports her husband and finances the education of her children, two of whom are already at university and one of whom is still at school. 

The situation is similar for 50-year-old Saada Sahmarani from Dawra Akkar. As a small farmer, her husband does not earn enough to support the family and pay for the youngest child's university education. To earn some extra money for the family and her son's education, Saada sells cheese and dairy products that she produces herself.

Sadaa and Jacqueline also received new equipment for their farms as part of the support program for female agricultural entrepreneurs. The new mixer makes Jaqueline's work much easier and Saadaa can expand her business with new products thanks to a dryer set that includes a digital scale, a solar dryer and storage containers. 

39-year-old Alia Abdallah from the village of Sendyaneh earns money for the medication and treatment for her 14-year-old daughter, who lives with a disability, by producing mouneh - traditionally preserved herbs, fruit and vegetables that are an important part of Lebanese cuisine. 
She received new tools for making sauces and preserved food through the funding program, including a gas burner, a strainer, a digital thermometer, a digital scale and a 70-liter soup pot with a lid. "With the equipment I've received, I can make and sell mouneh for my family without having to borrow equipment from others," she says gratefully. "The help has paved the way for my own business, for which I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Jacqueline adds.

© November 2023