A conference to discuss the problem of water scarcity in the region

The FAO Conference on Earth and Water Days in the Near East and North Africa, which is being held in Cairo from March 31 to April 4, 2019, aims to examine the progress made in reducing water scarcity in the region and to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience between countries and partners. Directions and future steps.

According to an official statement issued Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the ministerial meeting aims to reach consensus among ministers of food and agriculture. water and agriculture on creating an environment conducive to the adoption of integrated land and water management, adding that the ministerial meeting will focus more specifically on the activation of a joint mechanism between governments must coordinate their activities and assess the demand for investment in the water sector in the region.

The meeting is expected to answer the questions raised on the level of investments needed in agricultural water management at the national and regional levels and the extent of the financing gap in this sector, in the light of the challenges of shortage of water.

In general, the countries of the region have developed their water resources more than any other region and have supported local cereal production through various means, including government subsidies, as well as the use of water. Water in agriculture accounts for more than 80% of available freshwater resources, depletion and deterioration of groundwater resources.

FAO noted that in the future, agriculture would face strong competition from the municipal and industrial services sectors for the use of already depleted freshwater resources, with disastrous consequences for agricultural production and security food.

The League of Arab States, in cooperation with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, FAO and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), will organize the first joint meeting of Arab Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development. 39, water and agriculture at the League of Arab States in Cairo on April 4, 2019 with the participation of partners which takes place under the theme "Towards a new generation of policies and investments in the agricultural sector". water in the Arab region ".