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The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Petros Xenophontos, took part in the proceedings of the 43rd Session of the General Assembly of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
On 3 July 2023, in his intervention at the General Debate on the State of Food and Agriculture on "Integrated Water Resources Management", he stated that increasing pressure on limited water resources has reduced the availability of water for the sustainable development of agri-food systems hindering our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He stressed that integrated water resources management is key to addressing the challenges and contributing to inclusive and effective water governance. Moreover, agriculture, as the world's largest water user, is part of the solution, as ensuring equitable and sustainable water allocation ensures food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, conservation of biodiversity and wetlands, and addressing water pollution caused by agriculture.
Xenophontos pointed out that Cyprus, through the National Strategy for Sustainability, the Action Plans and the use of the tools provided by the new Common Agricultural Policy, the European Green Deal and its initiatives and strategies, is paving the way for the effective transformation of its agri-food systems.
To this end, the Government is investing in the effective management of the country's water resources by exploiting unconventional water sources, implementing water saving measures, promoting education and awareness campaigns, supporting the use of modern irrigation techniques, investing in water infrastructure and developing flood-resistant infrastructure, supporting diversified farming systems, resilient crop varieties and agroforestry.
The Minister concluded by urging FAO members to work with each other, embracing integrated water resources management, to ensure global food security, protect livelihoods and safeguard the well-being of future generations.
(BG)
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