FAO and Lebanon deepen their collaboration in the fight against water and food insecurity

11 April 2019, Beirut -- FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, Abdessalam Ould Ahmed met with H.E. Hassan Al-Lakkis, Minister of Agriculture in Lebanon today at the Ministry's premises.
Both principals held discussions on strengthening the joint work and collaboration with a focus on building resilience for enhanced food security and nutrition in the region and Lebanon.

The talks also highlighted the importance of coordination between countries of the region on various issues that includes water scarcity, drought, and food insecurity.

Water and food security in the region

During the meeting, Ould Ahmed highlighted the importance of developing policies and a common vision aims at integrating the sustainable management of water and land in Lebanon.

Al Lakkis praised FAO role in supporting the Ministry's efforts to develop a new generation of agricultural policies, strategies and plans to meet the current challenges and future risks related to water security, food security and development of the agricultural sector.

Talks also focused on water security in the region especially after first joint meeting of Arab ministers of agriculture and water held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States at the beginning of this month. The joint meeting highlighted the urgent need to develop innovative practices that address the impacts of climate change on water availability and agriculture, and the natural, economic and social challenges facing food and water security in the Arab region.

Ould Ahmed stressed that while conflicts and extreme climatic events were contributing to the rising of hunger in the region, water scarcity was straining rural livelihoods, forcing people to migrate from rural to urban areas.

Future collaboration between FAO and Lebanon

During the meeting, both principals discussed the development of a new agricultural strategy jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture in Lebanon and FAO.

Ould Ahmed reiterated FAO's willingness to support Lebanon in reinforcing the work already being done and in the pipeline by the government to strengthen the agricultural sector.