Grows hope in wartime
Becoming self-sufficient has never been more important. While bombs fall over Lebanon and food prices skyrocket, farmer Rabiha Mohammad Harmouch continue to grow food for her family and community. However, becoming a farmer was not always an easy path for her.
Rahibah cultivates in her own garden in Lebanon.
“Come in, come in,” Rabiha Mohammad smiles as she invites us into her fragrant greenhouse. Behind the curtain appears row upon row of vibrant herbs and salad greens in every color and shape.
We are in northern Lebanon, just over half an hour from Tripoli. Since the escalation of violence this year, over one million people have been displaced across the country in search of safer areas. Food prices for many basic items have increased significantly, and concerns about food security are growing.
Work and food in wartime
Rabiha is one of 480 farmers supported through Norwegian Church Aid’s Economic Development and Food Security (EDFS) intervention, implemented in partnership with the René Moawad Foundation.
The intervention supports vulnerable farmers with agricultural inputs, tools, and technical guidance to help them sustain production, reduce costs, and strengthen their economic resilience during times of crisis.
Through the project, Rabiha received support to rehabilitate her greenhouse roof plastic sheets, agricultural tools, and training from an agronomist. She also received assistance during the harvesting period.
“A tight and solid roof means I can grow crops predictably. But for me, it has also been incredibly useful to learn about diseases and pests. Now I know what to do if my plants fall ill.”
For Rabiha, farming has always been part of her life. As a child, she spent countless hours walking through the fields with her father and grandfather.
But when she decided she wanted to become a farmer herself, not everyone supported the idea.
“Grandfather and father didn’t exactly agree with my choice. They didn’t approve of the vegetables I wanted to grow either, but I do as I please here in my greenhouse,” she says with a laugh.
And it isn’t just the salad that stands out. Along the wall, roses stretch toward the light.
“I love roses, and when I see them as I come in, it makes me so happy. Being happy is a good driving force for a farmer,” she says, before continuing:
“You must love the act of growing. That’s how you get the best plants.”
Even though her grandfather didn’t support roses in the greenhouse or her unconventional crops, Rabiha has carved her own path. It’s easy to see that she is deeply passionate about her craft. She speaks in detail about various herbs and how they are used in Lebanese cuisine.
“I love watching my plants grow. Coriander, thyme, beets, lettuce, lemons, different salad greens. I tease my friends that I’m the lucky one. While they sit at home and only eat, I stay fit and have my own job,” she grins.
Growing resilience in crisis
The war in Lebanon comes on top of multiple overlapping crises, including economic decline, rising poverty, unemployment, and the growing impacts of climate change.
While we are visiting the greenhouse, hail suddenly begins to fall. Marble-sized pellets bounce off the roof and ground outside.
“We clearly see the effects of climate change hail this early destroys the fruit trees. I pray and hope this won’t continue,” she says.
For organization like Norwegian Church Aid, supporting farmers has become increasingly important as crises continue to affect communities across Lebanon.
“We have seen the developments over time, and it is natural for Norwegian Church Aid to contribute here as well. We have long experience in ensuring people’s access to food, and we see how valuable that is—especially in these difficult times,” says Håvard Hovdhaugen, Country Director for Norwegian Church Aid in Syria and Lebanon.
The foundation laid in calmer times becomes a lifeline during war and conflict.
“We see this in several of the countries where Norwegian Church Aid is present when things are at their worst, being self-sufficient and earning an income becomes absolutely crucial,” he says.
A proud farmer
For Rabiha, the most important thing is to keep her greenhouse running.
“I don’t earn enough to dream big or expand, but this is enough for me. I’m proud of my work and what I achieve. That’s what matters most.”
She has three pieces of advice for others who want to succeed in farming:
“Love what you do, set aside time to be in your greenhouse, and you must always enter your greenhouse with happiness. And I should add. It helps to have roses by the entrance.”
