Arab framework for dealing with water and food crises

Mr. Khalid Al-Fadhel, Kuwaiti Minister of Petroleum, Electricity and Water, Chairman of the Arab Ministerial Council on Water, stressed the importance of setting up a genuine Arab framework for constructive cooperation, policy coherence and joint programs and projects to overcome current challenges related to water and food crises in the Arab region . Arab water and agriculture.

This is what Ambassador Ahmed Al-Bakr, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the League of Arab States, told the joint meeting of Arab Ministers of Agriculture and Trade. Water, which was held Thursday at the headquarters of the Arab League, attended by ministers and representatives of Arab countries, experts and senior officials from Arab countries, Finance and donor countries.

Mr. Al-Fadhel stressed the importance of finding solutions, investment and financing opportunities for agricultural water management and strengthening its use to enable Arab countries to follow and implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan and achieve their economic, social and environmental goals. Arab.

Al-Fadil stressed that the water situation in the Arab countries "requires that we face many challenges, including the scarcity of water resources and their limits given the continued population growth, growth urban and economic growth ". Climate risks and their obvious effects, Drought and desertification have darkened the economic, social and environmental situation of the Arab region, directly affecting all Arab citizens and creating new challenges for the future, which calls for more and more people. 39 efforts, conservation of water resources and continuity for future generations.

He pointed out that the agricultural sector is considered one of the main sectors related to the water sector. Agricultural projects are not active, they help to increase productivity and tangible economic growth. Food security is ensured only through practices and mechanisms improving the management of water resources and the efficiency of water use in agriculture. Al-Fadhil said that the Arab world is currently facing a food deficit that is the largest in the world, given the growing and huge food needs on the one hand, the scarcity of water resources and degradation agricultural land.

He stressed that the food deficit in the Arab region requires the establishment of sound policies to improve the management of water resources and the development of this management through the application of mechanisms and practices to coordinate the sectors. water and agriculture, in addition to finding investment and financing solutions to support the self-sufficiency of the Arab world and minimize the existing food deficit.

He stressed that the League of Arab States was constantly seeking to coordinate the water and agricultural sectors, as called for by the Arab Ministerial Council on Water, to create a permanent joint technical committee composed of senior officials from the water and agriculture sectors. water and agriculture, in order to institutionalize the coordination efforts of both sectors.