The recent ministerial meeting on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, which was held in Muscat, has urged concerned parties, including private sector, to mobilise funds to combat water scarcity, drought and climate change in countries in the Near East and the North Africa region.
Issuing a joint declaration on the sidelines of the meeting of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Near East and North African Region, it urged concerned parties to exchange information by sharing databases at the regional and international levels.
“Besides countries from the Near East and North Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Norway and Spain participated in the meeting,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, said.
At the meeting under the patronage of H H Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said, advisor to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, participating countries explored ways for cooperation and joint ventures on agriculture, animal wealth and fisheries.
The meeting, which was held at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, also discussed ways to enrich biodiversity, plant genetic resources and food security in all participating countries in the backdrop of the current climate change.
“The meeting also talked about sustainable use of plant genetic resources, farmers’ rights and cooperation between the participating countries and international organisations. A special session was dedicated to discuss the progress of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture,” the spokesperson said.
The ministerial declaration emphasised the importance of world food security, interdependence of countries with regard to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and the importance of the treaty in conservation efforts.
“It also highlighted the role played by the treaty in achieving the Millennium Development Goals aimed at eradicating hunger, extreme poverty and to ensure environmental sustainability.”
The declaration has asked all concerned parties to take steps to preserve agricultural biodiversity and to arrest deterioration of water quantity and quality.
“It also stressed the importance of preserving traditional knowledge on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and enormous contribution of local and indigenous communities and farmers from all regions of the world, in the conservation and development of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,” he added.
