Kuwait briefs FAO regional conf. on its food security initiatives

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ROME May 10 (KUNA) -- Kuwait delegation to the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC-33) on Tuesday put the conferees in the picture of their country's efforts to ensure food security through good management of the natural and human resources.
Led by Board Chairman and Director General of the Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAF) Faisal Al-Hasawi the delegation includes the country's permanent delegate to FAO Yusuf Mejhel and alternate delegate Sheikha Manar Al-Sabah.
In his speech to a high-level meeting chaired by FAO Assistant Director-General Abdessalam Ould Ahmed Mejhel welcomed the current Chair of NERC the Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Akram Chouhaib.
He said the agricultural sector in Kuwait as in many other countries in the region faces the challenges of arid climate desert land and water scarcity.
The State of Kuwait has introduced the latest agricultural technologies to overcome these challenges tame nature and increase the flora and fauna productivity he said noting that the domestic dairy products and meat cover 30 percent of the country's needs at present.
Over the last decades PAAFR was able to import the best species of cattle and sheep and ensure their good health and the safety of their meat products for consumption Mejhel pointed out.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation between Kuwait on one hand and the specialized agencies such as FAO the World Organization for Animal Health and the World Health Organization on the other hand in preventing any outbreak of communicable diseases.
Regarding the development of fish resources he said PAAFR backs up the FAO Blue Growth initiative aiming to unlock the potentials of the fisheries sector.

Regarding empowering small-scale farmers of both gender in the region Kuwait delegate noted that the State of Kuwait provides legislative frameworks of the agriculture and food sector through the organizing regulations and laws including the relation between PAAFR and owners of agricultural holdings.
He said: "We are proud as many women manage several farms and contribute effectively to promoting the country's fish agriculture and food production." There are about 2000 farms ranging between 50 and 100 square metres at which female and male farmers work along with small breeders at fisheries poultry and animal farms he added.
Despite progress in all sectors Kuwait still needs the organization's expertise for investing farmers' capabilities in achieving food security and helping farmers especially the small-scale ones to market their products he pointed out.
Kuwait through PAAFR intends to reconsider the relations with farmers so as to contribute to coping with the modern agricultural developments in developed countries in order to ensure direct and indirect support for male and female farmers he said.
FAO's Regional Conference of Near East and North Africa is held every two years to guarantee the effectiveness of the organization's efforts in serving member states and regional economic societies. (end) mn.hm