Water use innovations crucial to face climate change in Arab countries.
A farmer harvesting water from a well for his goats and sheep.
In the Near East and North Africa region, the per capita renewable water availability is around 600 cubic metres per person per year – only 10 percent of the world average – and drops to just 100 cubic metres in some countries.
The Director-General praised Near East and North African countries’ progress, despite the challenges, in areas such as desalination, water harvesting, drip irrigation and treating wastewater.
"It is fundamental to promote ways for agriculture, and food production in general, to use less water, and use it more efficiently," he said.
Climate change, in particular, poses very serious risks."
"Not only to encourage them to adopt more efficient farming technologies, but also to secure access to drinking water for poor rural households.
"There is a major gap between supply and demand when it comes not only to water but also food in the Arab region.
He also urged better collaboration with countries that are home to rivers that flow into the region, and noted that water levels in the Euphrates and Nile Rivers are decreasing steadily.
FAO in Action In collaboration with the Arab League, FAO launched a Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity in the Near East in 2013 which supports the coordination of a Regional Collaborative Strategy.