Water scarcity major issue in North Africa: FAO

The warning came as agricultural ministers and national officials prepare to tackle the issue at a meeting of the organization's highest regional governing body beginning next Monday.

 

Among the issues on the agenda for the 32nd FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and North Africa is a new Regional Water Scarcity Initiative, launched by the FAO to support member countries in identifying strategies, policies and practices that promote sustainable solutions to water scarcity and related food security problems, UN officials said here.

 

"The region has made significant strides in two decades in developing its water usage and storage capacities, but there is still much work to be done to improve water efficiency in agriculture, protect water quality, and address challenges related to climate change," said Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for the Near East and North Africa.

 

Per capita fresh water availability in the region has plummeted by two-thirds over the past 40 years, heightening concerns over the degradation of water quality and the impact of climate change, the FAO said in a statement.

 

Chronic under-nourishment in the region is estimated at 11.2 percent, based on the 2010-2013 reporting period, while the population continues to grow at 2 percent, almost twice the global rate.

 

Farming and other agricultural activities consume more than 85 percent of available rain-fed, irrigated and groundwater resources, and the demand for agricultural products is expected to grow amid burgeoning urban populations and increased exports.

 

"Agriculture is by far the largest user of water in the region, but it is also fundamental to our survival and long-term resilience, accounting for some 95 billion dollars in added value to regional economies," said Ould Ahmed.

 

Next week's conference, under the theme of "For a resilient and food secure region," will be the first of a series of meetings in 2014 in each of the FAO's five operational regions.

 

The agenda will include issues like food losses and waste along the production-to-consumption chain, enhancing gender equality, and approaches to improving agriculture and rural development.

 

According to the FAO, more than 60 percent of the water resources used by countries in the region comes from outside of national and regional boundaries.

 

The pilot phase of the Regional Water Scarcity Initiative was launched in June 2013 in six countries -- Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia and Yemen. It reviews the current status of water availability, use and the potential for further agricultural production.