RESEARCH PROJECTS
Introducing the Italian honeybee to Lebanon: technical and economic feasibility The research investigates the technical and economic feasibility of introducing the Italian honeybee race, Apis mellifera ligustica, to Lebanon. This race is considered the most productive race worldwide in comparison with other honeybee races—namely, the domestic race. A field experiment is conducted to introduce the Italian queen bees together with Italian worker bees to domestic colonies of the race Apis mellifera syriaca. The acceptability of Italian queen bees by the domestic race to form new Italian colonies will then be analyzed. Economic and financial analyses of such practices will be performed to determine the feasibility of this technique. R. Darwish, E. Abou-Fakhr, B. Hamdar and A.S. Talhouk. (Supported by LNCSR). Yamouneh Agricultural Economic Sustainability (YEAS) Yammouneh region, once a major producer of illicit crops, is currently facing many socio-economic problems after the ban of such crops. Restructuring of the cropping pattern of Yammouneh should be made to provide a way for more sustainable economic growth for the region. The general objective of this research is to investigate the farming system of the Yammouneh region and, thereby, identify and analyze a potential new cropping pattern that may include existing crops as well as proposed ones. These crops should be: financially feasible (i.e. brings in the highest revenue), marketable and environmentally sound. In addition, the project will establish a national land resource database to monitor agricultural production, improve the utilization of available water resources and assure appropriate land use. R. Darwish, B.C. Hamdar and R. Zuryak. (Supported by the United States Agency for International Development) The economic impact of "GATT" on the Lebanese agricultural sector: The case of sugar beet and wheat production Internationalization of agriculture will deem the production
of many crops infeasible based on cost and price considerations. Sugar
beet crop is grown in the Beka'a plain, East Lebanon, while wheat is grown
in Beka'a and some parts of the South. The major objective of this study
is to investigate GATT's economic impact on wheat and sugar beet production.
Enterprise budgets are used to determine the profitability of these crops
under a 20% reduction in the current market price of both crops' scenario.
It is found that most of the farmers are likely to cut down or cease production
of sugar beet and wheat and replace them by other crops. B. Hamdar and
M.R.
Darwish (Supported by URB).
Betru, T. and Hamdar, B.C., Strengthening the linkages between research and extension in agricultural higher education institutions in developing countries. International Journal of Educational Development, 17(3), 303-311, 1997. Darwish, M., El-Awar, F., Sharara, M. and Hamdar, B., Economic-environmental approach for optimum wastewater utilization in irrigation: a case study in Lebanon. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, ASAE, 15(1), 41-48, 1999. Hamdar, B.C., A new era for efficient food manufacturing in Lebanon. Supply Chain Management, An International Journal, 4(1), 14-17, 1999. ———, An efficiency approach to managing Mississippi's marginal
land based on the conservation reserve program (CRP). Journal of Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, 26(1), 15-24, 1999.
Abul-Khoudoud, A., Role of women in Lebanese farm household in relation to extension system development: a socio-economic study (1998). T. Betru. Copti, R., Economic analysis of GATT's impact on the production of sugar beet and wheat in the Bekaa valley (1999). B. Hamdar. Geadah, L., Impact of quarrying activities on agriculture in Irsal: An enviro-economic assessment (1998). R. Darwish. Kanbar, N., An environmental economic approach to assess the sustainability of managing protected areas: The case of the palm island (1999). B. Hamdar Mansour, D., A comparative economic analysis of the Israeli and Lebanese agricultural sector (1999). B. Hamdar. Olaik, R., Economic and marketing modeling of commercial apiculture in Lebanon: Does buzzing make good business (1998). R. Darwish. Rahal, R., Exploring economic feasibility of sustaining biodiversity: the case of Al-Shouf Cedar reserve of Lebanon (1999). B. Darwish Ramadan, L., Improving irrigation efficiency and equity through water users associations in North Lebanon (1998). T. Betru. Saliby, A., Optimization approach to economic sustainable
use of agricultural marginal land: The case of Irsal (1998). B. Hamdar.
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