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FAO calls for investments to assure sustainable water use within Middle East/North Africa
24.01.2019 20:42 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
As of this week, an international Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Investment Forum has been held within Oman, UN Radio reports.
It is to be admitted, the region has some of the lowest levels of freshwater within the world, and these mainly underground, non-renewable stocks are being depleted. Freshwater has reduced by 60% within the last four decades and is expected to fall a further 50% by 2050. Agriculture accounts for 85% of the water use, and it will likely be the hardest hit by further shortages.
As to the report, while addressing the agriculture ministers and private sector representatives at the Forum, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said it is imperative to scale up policies and investments within the Middle East and North Africa to make water use within agriculture more sustainable and efficient and to ensure that all the people in the region have access to healthy diets.
«Here within the Middle East and North Africa region, water scarcity is certainly one of the main challenges for agriculture production and development,» he told.
As to the report, da Silva stressed the need to tackle the region’s water and soil challenges to ensure access to locally produced fresh food
Reportedly, he also urged governments and private sector representatives to take action to transform food systems worldwide to allow people to consume fresher, healthier and more nutritious food, warning about the rising level of overweight and obesity malnutrition.
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