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A passionate farmer

In crises-hit Lebanon, Rima struggled to keep her livestock farming business afloat, while having to provide for her family's increasing needs.

Rima is a Lebanese farmer and a mother of four. She has grown up in the Bekaa valley in a family of farmers and has been passionate about farming ever since. She used to work in housekeeping before starting her own farm in 2004.

“I love this job, because my parents used to love it. It brings me loads of positive energy and comfort. My heart is full of joy whenever I look at the cows. I love them! And they definitely feel it!”

The farm is the main source of income for Rima’s family and allows her to send her children to school. It has been impacted by the multilayered crisis that hit Lebanon starting 2019. While her family’s needs were continuously increasing, living conditions were getting worse and the productivity of the farm was decreasing, impacted by fewer electricity hours and fluctuating exchange rate.

Few months ago, Rima has enrolled in the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) economic recovery project, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Having attended relevant information sessions, she could identify the resources needed for her to improve the farm and requested them from the project.

Sharing the dream with her children

After DRC had provided her with a generator, a cow milking machine and milk carriers, Rima was able to maintain her business. Taking care of the farm, producing milk and selling it became easier for Rima.

She is now a step closer to pursuing her dream of expanding her farm and moving to a better location in the valley where she can build a bigger farm and house of her own.

“Now that I’m doing my job with less physical effort, I hope that I will be able to expand my farm. I’d love to establish a bigger one in the middle of the valley and to buy a land there. I always share this dream with my children.”