FAO official urges implementation of water scarcity initiatives in Near East & North Africa region

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Sun, 31 Mar 2019 - 10:49 GMT

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Sun, 31 Mar 2019 - 10:49 GMT

Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, and Oleksiy Vadatursky, CEO and co-owner of Nibulon, sign a memorandum on behalf of their organizations - Press Photo

Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, and Oleksiy Vadatursky, CEO and co-owner of Nibulon, sign a memorandum on behalf of their organizations - Press Photo

CAIRO, March 31 (MENA) - Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa, has put at about 13 billion dollars the total annual losses due to soil erosion in the region.

To achieve sustainable development goals, initiatives on water scarcity should go into effect at the regional level, said Ould Ahmed in his speech in the conference of Land and Water Days on Sunday.

The problem of land degradation and desertification is aggravating due to conflicts and climate change, he said.

Ould Ahmed made it clear that soil erosion not only leads to a reduced agricultural production, but also increases sand storms.

FAO has over the past five years been working with its partners to outline guidelines for sustainable soil management, he told the gathering.

Climate change remains a top challenge facing the region, Ould Ahmed said, stressing that it poses a great threat to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

He urged a quick endorsement of food and agricultural systems that can cope with climate change.

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