Saudi Arabia Advocates Regional Partnerships To Enhance Water And Food Security In The Arab Region

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has highlighted the importance of forming regional and international partnerships to create innovative solutions for integrating water and agriculture sectors in the Arab region. This integration is crucial for enhancing water and food security, as well as supporting sustainable development goals in the region. The emphasis was made during Saudi Arabia's participation in the third joint Arab Ministerial Meeting for Agriculture and Water held in Cairo, Egypt.

Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Agriculture, Suliman Al-Khateeb, shared insights into Saudi Arabia's achievements in aligning water policies with national food security plans. This strategic alignment has led to a significant increase in local agricultural production, which now exceeds 16 million tons. Over the past five years, the sector's GDP has grown at a compound annual rate of 7%.

Al-Khateeb emphasized the urgent need for regional measures to boost water and food security. He suggested adopting innovative financing policies to localize modern agricultural technologies. Improving irrigation efficiency and expanding climate-smart agriculture are also key areas of focus. Additionally, he called for efforts to strengthen rural economies while empowering women and youth.

The meeting was attended by ministers, deputy ministers from various regions, and representatives from relevant regional and international organizations. Al-Khateeb highlighted a 52% reduction in the use of non-renewable water in agriculture. Furthermore, there has been an estimated 17% increase in the irrigation efficiency index compared to 2016.

Al-Khateeb urged joint action to harmonize Arab water and food security risk management through interconnected early warning systems. He stressed the need to accelerate governance of legislation that supports Arab agricultural integration. Transparent free trade and environmentally friendly agricultural investments were also highlighted as essential components.

The meeting underscored the necessity of collaborative efforts among Arab nations to address challenges related to water and agriculture sectors. By working together, countries can develop strategies that ensure sustainable growth while safeguarding resources for future generations.

Saudi Arabia's participation in this ministerial meeting reflects its commitment to fostering regional cooperation. By sharing its experiences and successes, the Kingdom aims to contribute positively towards achieving collective goals in water and food security across the Arab region.

With inputs from SPA