ALFALFA INVESTMENT

AND PRODUCTION GUIDE

Foreword

Alfalfa is one of the oldest and the most important fodder crops. It is thought that alfalfa

started being cultivated 8,000 years ago in Asia, from where it draws its origins (Ivanov). During

the long history of its cultivation, alfalfa production has been transferred to other continents,

where it is still being cultivated. Perennial varieties of alfalfa are very wide-spread all over the

world, and depending on the climate the most widely available varieties are Medicago sativa L

(common purple alfalfa), Medicago media Pers. (hybrid alfalfa), and Medicago falcata L (yellow

alfalfa). (Pajic and Markovic) 1

Prior to the devaluation of the Lebanese Lira, alfalfa production in Lebanon was not economically

viable, except in large landholdings (ARE-Calculations). Given the demand from dairy producers

and the fact that alfalfa prices in Lebanon closely follow global prices, in dollars, the economics

of alfalfa production have become more favorable, especially for landowners.

Thus, USAID -Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE)Activity has developed this production

and investment guide to help potential growers understand the economics and technical

production aspects of growing alfalfa. If you are interested in investing in alfalfa production and

are interested in ARE support, please follow this link to learn more.

https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/chemonics-international-inc/calls/agriculture­

and-rural-empowerment-are-activity-aps00 I -annual-program-statement

Mature alfalfa field ready far harvest (Credit Chemanics International, Inc.)

1- Pajic, Nemanja & Markovic, Todor.(2016). Economic results in alfalfa seed production. Ratarstvo i povrtarstvo. 53. 111-1 15. I 0.5937/ratpov53-10851.

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00X7ZJ.pdf

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00X7ZJ.pdf