Homepage  Homepage     Search on site  Search on site     To write the letter  To write the letter     Site map  Site map
Agro Perspectiva
We are on: 
   
 


Home > News

High-level roundtable calls for strengthened collaboration in the Near East and North Africa

22.09.2020 12:15 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — Ministers and other representatives of FAO Members in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region shared their concerns and priorities over how to respond to the COVID-19 disruptions and accelerate progress towards sustainable food systems, in a high-level roundtable during the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East.

Several participants highlighted that the COVID-19 crisis put additional pressure on regional food systems, which were already facing many challenges, such as rapidly expanding population, the impacts of climate changed, extreme water scarcity and the degradation of natural resources. The occurrence of heavy flooding and the Desert Locust invasions were also mentioned.

The Minister for Agriculture of Iran, Jahad Kazem Khavazi, emphasized the need to accelerate actions on long-term issues, particularly climate change, soil erosion and emergent pests, all of which have negative impacts on small-scale family farmers. «If this situation is not effectively addressed in the region, the risks are that all the efforts made in fighting hunger and poverty will come to nothing,» he warned.

The Iranian Minister also mentioned that Iran has used a mix of social protection measures, state support for e-commerce initiatives, assisted freight for the output of rural women and food baskets to mitigate the national impact of the pandemic on food security. «We believe this needs to be expanded in a regional perspective and hope FAO can help with this,» he said.

Concerns about commodity food prices and trade disruptions were also raised. The Minister for Agriculture of Lebanon, Abbas Mortada, noted that his country has a number of agricultural support schemes that are now threatened by a sharp currency depreciation and a worsening economic crisis. He suggested that a trust fund be created to enable exchange of expertise and resources between countries in the region — an idea that was echoed by Tunisia’s minister for Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Aksa Bahri.

In a similar vein, the representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain called upon FAO to establish a contingency plan for future emergencies based on what the COVID-19 crisis showed were vulnerable flash points. «Foodstuffs should not be stopped at the border and treated like hazardous material — they save lives,» the country’s official said. «We need to act at the level of the subregion as if it were all part of the same country.»

The Minister for Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, Al-Sayed el-Quseir, noted that making sure that transport to markets for agricultural outputs remains viable even is very important to facilitate investments by farmers who, for example, shift from thirsty cereals to higher-value but perishable fruit products.

Beyond its immediate impact, COVID-19 has also delayed strategic actions, such as an ambitious national plan by Sudan to expand use of uncultivated but arable lands that could drive output of sunflower and sesame seeds as well as cotton for export markets, according to the country’s acting Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abdelgadir M. A. Turkawi.

While the pandemic disruptions have been dire, in some cases they galvanized positive reactions. In Iraq, for example, the government has expanded its farm support from wheat to include fruit and vegetable production, and now has a surplus ready for export or processing. «Today we consider this a success story,» the representative of Iraq said.

Moving forward together

Facing a myriad of challenges, several participants called for a more integrated regional response, as it can lead to more and better investments, including from the private sector, with FAO portrayed as a key coordinator.

In her introductory remarks, FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol presented 12 key elements of a COVID-19 plan for the region. The elements comprise humanitarian programmes, data, analysis and policy support, advocacy of social protection for smallholders and the rural poor, schemes for enhancing youth and women’s economic empowerment, a One Health approach to trans-boundary plant and animal pests and diseases, and bolstering food safety standards and trade resilience, as well as supporting accessible digital innovation for small-scale farmers, inclusive value chains and stronger agri-food business models. Promoting healthier diets and bolstering farming enterprises in a region known for water scarcity are also key and ongoing priorities.

«It is clear how important agriculture and food security is to each of your countries and the entire region,» said Bechdol, adding that «the key is to establish a policy framework that enables change at scale, and when possible also fosters collective and aligned action to unlock investment and innovation.»

She also highlighted that partnerships are essential, especially when they can deliver and catalyze concrete actions from a diverse set of partners around specific areas of critical opportunity. «We need to conceive and put in place unique collaborations, where there’s an exchange of expertise and knowledge.»

There was also broad consensus on the importance of FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative focus on bringing in new partners to drive rural transformation and growth and eradicate poverty and hunger once and for all across the region.

Representatives from Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Jordan and Mauritania also intervened during the event.

«We need our energies to work together in the region to bring better results for our people. We are living in extraordinary times,» said Thanawat Tiensin, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security, a FAO-hosted forum.

Representatives from non-State actors also participated in the meeting, such as the Arab Peasants and Agricultural Cooperatives Union (APACU), the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

Agro Perspectiva

< State Statistics Service confirms assessment of Ukraine's GDP fall at 11.4% in Q2 2020 All news for
22.09.2020
World peach and nectarine production is forecast down 1.1 million metric tons to 21.0 million >

19.03.2024  
09:43 CAP - The Commission proposes simplifications that safeguard agricultural transitions!
18.03.2024  
23:10 The European Union and Switzerland launch negotiations to deepen bilateral relations
10:05 Commission proposes targeted review of Common Agricultural Policy to support EU farmers
15.03.2024  
23:36 Cargill Power CanolaTM Program Helps Farmers Take Advantage of Growing Bioenergy Market Opportunities for Canadian Canola
23:19 FAO will provide Ukrainian farmers with soybean and sunflower seeds for spring sowing campaign
13.03.2024  
23:27 FAO urges more cooperation in banana sector, significant for some least developed and low-income food-deficit countries and smallholder farmers
16:51 The European Commission sets out key steps for managing climate risks to protect people and prosperity
12.03.2024  
20:25 Coreper and COMENVI approve the provisional agreement on EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework
20:24 INTA MEPs fail EU producers by dismissing potential improvements to Ukraine ATMs
08:10 Soybean meal is expected to be a more competitive feed ingredient on higher global supplies.
11.03.2024  
09:11 U.S. Corn Exports Shift Destinations as Brazil Captures China Market
08.03.2024  
15:20 Conflicts push acute food insecurity higher
13:21 FAO Food Price Index declines further in February
13:14 Packaging: Council and Parliament strike a deal to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU
11:45 Commission approves ˆ61.3 million Bulgarian State aid scheme to support farmers, producers of grain and oil crops, in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
07.03.2024  
20:41 First go-ahead to renewing trade support for Ukraine and Moldova
05.03.2024  
15:55 Commission proposes to prolong road transport agreements with Ukraine and Moldova and introduces updates to the agreement with Ukraine
02.03.2024  
07:31 Heroes of deserts and highlands: Nourishing people and culture
23.02.2024  
10:21 BASF’s financial strength supports proposed stable dividend of ˆ3.40 per share for the 2023 business year
10:17 The Council has chosen to ignore farmers' concerns regarding Ukraine ATMs; it is now imperative for the European Parliament to take action
20.02.2024  
20:27 South Asia is anticipated to import nearly 14 million tons wheat in 2023/24
19.02.2024  
13:00 Cargill and ENOUGH expand partnership to provide consumers with innovative, sustainable protein options
17.02.2024  
17:47 Global Environment Facility approves new FAO-led projects and programs benefiting 46 countries
16.02.2024  
09:10 The EU is at a crossroads with the Ukrainian agricultural issue - COPA-COGECA, AVES, CEFS, CEPM, CIBE, EUWEP
13.02.2024  
17:31 European farmers exempted from rules on land lying fallow
12.02.2024  
16:45 India Wheat Stocks Plummet to Lowest in 15 Years
03.02.2024  
17:35 Mandarins. Global production for 2023/24 is forecast to rise to 38.0 million tons
09:59 Record cereal output in 2023
07:15 FAO Food Price Index down again in January led by lower wheat and maize prices
29.01.2024  
10:32 President von der Leyen launches Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture
26.01.2024  
11:31 Record Exports Forecast for Egypt Oranges
23.01.2024  
17:55 With the Federal Chancellor in the show bakery
19.01.2024  
11:45 Organic production in Ukraine
16.01.2024  
23:25 Domestic consumption of dairy products may double in 2024 – analysts
12.01.2024  
23:53 Competition Tightens for Leading Pork Exporter
22:55 Peru Fish Meal Exports at Lowest Level Since 2015/16 El Niño
22:43 Grains Trade Disrupted by Challenges in Key Shipping Routes
10.01.2024  
15:38 In China, the largest import market for dairy products, surplus raw milk production led to government subsidies to stabilize the domestic processing sector
09.01.2024  
11:55 The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 134.6 points in December, down 26.8 points from November
06.01.2024  
12:43 Polish fish and seafood imports continued to grow in 2022 and reached over $3 billion, with a $129 million (4 percent market share) originating from the USA
05.01.2024  
17:21 EU imports are dominated by unroasted green coffee beans, which accounts for about 90 percent of trade
17:00 FAO Food Price Index declines in December. Benchmark measure of world food commodity prices ends 2023 about 10 percent below its year-earlier level
29.12.2023  
09:53 Global and Bank of Georgia sign EUR50 million loan agreement to support small businesses
28.12.2023  
16:47 EIB delivers EUR3 million for energy-efficient upgrades in three Ukrainian cities
27.12.2023  
23:11 EU agri-food trade surplus increases in September 2023
26.12.2023  
15:05 FAO and EU launch a second grant call to bolster the recovery of Ukrainian farmers
18.12.2023  
09:00 EIB Global offers support to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia on the next step of their EU accession paths
11.12.2023  
13:21 FAO Food Price Index holds steady in November
09.12.2023  
22:15 Donau Soja: Republic of Moldova increases soya harvest in 2023 and boosts market opportunities in the EU
24.11.2023  
12:25 SUGAR MARKET BY SESVANDERHAVE

Also available: 


NewsNews - News - News - News - News - News
BriefWeekly Reports - Free article
SubscriptionTariff - News&Reports
AdvertisingMagazine - Site
ConferencesForum AGRO-2013 - DAIRY WORLD-2008 - FERTILIZERS-2010
Statistics
For our clientsAgroNewsDaily - Ukrainian Grain&Oilseed Market - Fertilizers - Milk Monthly - Milk Weekly
About usAbout project - Contact
2002 -2024 © Agrarika, ltd.
tel.: +380 67 4473802; +380 67 5964652
e-mail: client@agroperspectiva.com