Unlocking Social Protection for Rural Populations: Lessons from Farmer Registries in the Near East and North Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a virtual regional dialogue to explore how farmer registries can support more inclusive agricultural and social protection policies in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

Farmer registries are digital systems that collect and manage data on farmers and their holdings, enabling better targeting and coordination of support programmes. While countries in the region are at different stages of implementation, these systems are increasingly recognized as critical tools for policy design and delivery.

The event brought together government representatives, technical experts, and development partners to share experiences and practical lessons from country-level implementation. It also marked the launch of a new FAO publication analyzing farmer registries in Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon.

“Countries need to invest in digital systems that connect farmers more inclusively to institutions, services and policies,” said Dalia Abulfotuh, Economist at FAO.

“Farmer registries are proving essential for identifying vulnerable farmers, improving coordination across sectors, and supporting more strategic, data-driven programme design,” added Greta Campora, Social Protection and Economic Inclusion Specialist at FAO.

In Morocco, Faress Yahya, Head of the Social Protection Division for Farmers, Ministry of Agriculture, Morocco, explained how the Registre Agricole Nationale aligns with national agricultural strategies and social protection reforms. “We developed a legal framework that defines the registry’s objectives and ensures alignment with our broader reforms. The system helps us identify vulnerable farmers and connect them to services,” he said.

In Lebanon, Rima El Hajjar, Head of Economic and Marketing Service and Farmer registry Focal Point, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Lebanon, noted that the registry began as a pilot and expanded into a national system in 2021 with the support of FAO and the European Union. “So far, about 48,000 individuals have registered. The goal is to support evidence-based policymaking and ensure fair distribution of support,” she said.

In Jordan, Khalid Al Heesa, Secretary General Assistant for Projects and Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture of Jordan, shared how the country developed an integrated digital system to centralize agricultural data. “Our registry includes data on both Jordanians and non-Jordanians, including refugees. We use GPS and real-time digital tools to collect and verify data, which is shared across ministries for cross-validation,” he explained.

Speakers also reflected on how farmer registries are being linked to national social protection systems. In Morocco, the registry supports targeting for social protection schemes, though infrastructure and administrative capacity remain challenges. In Lebanon, efforts are underway to integrate the registry with the Ministry of Social Affairs and issue identification cards for farmers, as well as provide documented work permits to agricultural workers. In Jordan, over 120,000 individuals and 70,000 agricultural holdings are now registered, with a focus on data maintenance, local-level governance, and scaling up with continued international support.

Valentina Barca, Independent Social Protection and Registries Specialist, independent Social Protection Specialist, concluded the event by highlighting the importance of strong institutional coordination across ministries, solid legal and policy frameworks, and long-term investment in national capacity. She emphasized the need for integrated data ecosystems that connect farmer registries with other national systems.

As part of these efforts, governments now have access to a set of global standards developed by the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI), with contributions from FAO. These guidelines provide a roadmap for enabling interoperability between farmer registries and broader social data systems, supporting more integrated and inclusive service delivery.

FAO remains committed to supporting countries in the NENA region to develop inclusive, interoperable farmer registries that serve as a vital bridge between agricultural development and social protection.