Cooperatives
SAWA Cooperative
The cooperative organization for cooling, packing and marketing of fruits and vegetables in Al Qaa
SAWA cooperative, which means “together”, has been officially established in 2021 with the aim to improve the agricultural business practices in the village and enhance the socio-economic conditions of the farmers. It now counts 66 active members for a total of 500 hectars.
It is located in Al-Qaa, a city approximately 136 km away from Beirut, on the Lebanese-Syrian border in far north of Bekaa valley .It rises from the sea level between 700 m and up to 1500 m in the high mountains and the exceptional climate conditions of snowy winters and warm summers ensures one of the best fruits and vegetables quality.
Products
Here the fruits and vegetables produced by the cooperative’s members:
Fruits:
Table grapes, Apricots, Apples, Green Almonds, Peaches.
Vegetables:
Fava Beans, Green Peas, Artichoke, Lettuce, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Eggplants Mdaabal, Eggplants (Abiad), Tomatoes Jabalye, Tomatoes Oumani, Cucumber.
The Center
Since 2020, the Cooperative has a packaging center of 300 square meters with cooling, sorting and packing rooms where the post-harvesting activities are undertaken to prepare the products for the market – local or export (precooling, sorting, packaging, labelling, and cooling).
The construction of the post-harvesting and cooling facilities as well as the provision of equipment have been financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (A.I.C.S) through John Paul II foundation (JPIIF) and Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL), while the land is provided by the municipality of Al Qaa.
QAA EL RIM Cooperative
The cooperative organization for cooling, packing and marketing of cherries in Kaa El Rim
Kaa el-Rim Cooperative was established in 2020 and counts 30 active members, mainly in the Cherry productions, for a total of 50 hectares.
The name takes origin from the village, Qaa al‐Rim, which is located in the Zahle district (Bekaa Valley) in the northern part of the Berdawni River with an altitude between 1250-1500 meters, above the sea level.
Products
There are different types of soil in the village that vary from one place to the other. The soil can be red, calcareous, sandy, or other, in addition to rain‐fed lands which provide a diversified agricultural production.
The products of the cooperative are: Apples, Cherries, Almonds
The Center
Since 2019, the Cooperative has a packaging Center of 400 square meters with cooling, sorting and packing rooms where the post-harvesting activities are undertaken to prepare the products for the market – local or export (precooling, sorting, packaging, labelling, and cooling).
The construction of the post-harvesting and cooling facilities as well as the provision of equipment have been financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (A.I.C.S) through John Paul II foundation (JPIIF).
AINATA Cooperative
Ainata agricultural cooperative
Ainata cooperative, whose motto is “Join hands for better agricultural practices in Ainata” was established in 1980 by 20 members, which are nowadays 56 (active) with an overall 150 hectares.
The cooperative’s ultimate objective is to enhance the socio‐economic condition of its members through providing them with technical support, marketing services, exploration and management of water resources, development and expansion of the cultivated area, and continuously improving its production and post‐harvesting techniques.
The village of Ainata is located in the northern part of the Bekaa valley on the eastern side of Mount Lebanon at an altitude ranging between 1600 to 1700 meters above sea level.
Products
Ainata is famous for its high-quality products especially apples, cherries and recently wine grapes. The agro‐climatic conditions of the area are the reason why products are tasty and appealing. This constitutes a competitive advantage in the local market as well as on export. (here we can create a link for the products, so clicking you reach the section dedicated to that product).
The Aianta cooperative’s products are: Apricots, Apples, Cherries, Almonds Ferke
The Center
Since 2017, the cooperative has been equipped with a cooling facility which is a property of the municipality of Ainata. It is composed of 3 cooling rooms of 180 sqm in total and 1 pre cooling room of 60 sqm, the refrigerated truck of a loading capacity of 5 tons owned by the cooperative, and small equipment necessary to prepare the products for the national and international market such as the gas injectors, the strappers, the scales, etc. owned by the cooperative.
AIN EL QABOU Cooperative
Ain El Qabou agricultural cooperative
Ain El Qabou Cooperative was established in 1982 and counts 35 active members, mainly in the Cherry productions, for a total of 40 hectares. The name takes origin from the village, Ain El Qabou, which is located in the Baskenta area (Matn district) at an altitude between 1.100 meters above the sea level.
Products
There are different types of soil in the village that vary from one place to the other. The soil can be red, calcareous, and sandy. In addition to rain‐fed lands which provide a diversified agricultural production. The fruits and vegetables produced are: Apples, Cherries, Peaches, Persimmon, Plums
The Center
Since 2000, the Cooperative has a packaging Center of 400 square meters with cooling, sorting and packing rooms where the post-harvesting activities are undertaken to prepare the products for the market – local or export (precooling, sorting, packaging, labelling, and cooling).
WADI AL AARAYECH Cooperative
The cooperative for sorting, cooling, packing and marketing of fruits in Wadi El Arayech
Wadi Al-Aarayech Cooperative was established in 2021 by 25 active members with an overall of 67 hectares. The village of Wadi El Arayech is located in the Zahle district (Bekaa governorate) and in terms of altitude, its most elevated houses reach 1250m above sea level, and its highest eastern landmark is between 1200-1300m above sea level.
Products
There are different types of soil in the village that vary from one place to the other. The soil can be red, calcareous, sandy, or other, in addition to rain‐fed lands which provide a diversified agricultural production.
The fruits of Wadi Cooperatives are: Cherries, Almonds
The Center
Since 2021 The cooperative has an center composed by a 1 cooling room of 100 sqm capacity 60 tons of cherries/almonds and 1 pre cooling room of 20 sqm capacity 2 tons of cherries/almonds, the walkie stackers, and the small equipment necessary to prepare the products for the national and international market such as the strappers, the scales and others. The hangar is a donation from the municipality of Zahle and Jean Paul II Foundation.
