Salimiyeh presents Palestine’s water and agricultural priorities at the Marseille International Water Conference

Marseille - Ofoq News - Minister of Agriculture, Rizk Salimiyeh, participated in the ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the Marseille International Water Conference, with the participation of representatives from about 50 countries, while the ministerial meeting included representatives of 14 countries, and discussed ways to enhance the role of agriculture as a strategic partner in managing water resources and achieving food security.

During the meeting, Salimiyeh stressed the importance of linking water security and food security, and dealing with agriculture as an essential partner in managing water resources, and not just a consuming sector.

He reviewed the challenges facing the Palestinian agricultural sector, most notably water scarcity and climate change, in addition to Israeli restrictions and attacks that limit farmers’ access to their lands and water sources, and affect agricultural production and livelihoods.

He stressed the need to develop modern irrigation systems, raise the efficiency of water use, improve soil management, expand the cultivation of crops adapted to climate conditions, and enhance the use of treated wastewater in agriculture in accordance with quality and safety standards, which contributes to providing additional water sources and reducing pressure on fresh water.

He stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the fields of financing, scientific research, training and capacity building, taking into account the needs of farmers and their economic potential.

In the context of discussing opportunities for technical cooperation, Salimiyeh held a meeting with representatives of the French institutions (EAT), (INRAE) and (Experts-Solidaires), which discussed areas of cooperation in water management and reuse of treated water in agriculture.

The discussions focused on participatory planning and involvement of farmers and local authorities in managing treated water, applying the multiple barriers approach to reduce risks and ensuring its safe use, in addition to benefiting from the principles of agroecology in designing and managing irrigated agricultural areas in a sustainable manner.

He also discussed with the delegation of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works in Turkey (DSİ) the prospects for cooperation in managing water resources and developing the necessary infrastructure to serve the agricultural sector, including the construction and restoration of dams, the development of rainwater harvesting facilities, and benefiting from Turkish expertise in water storage and management, as well as training, capacity building, and the exchange of technical expertise.

These meetings come in light of the limited water resources in Palestine and the increasing pressure on the agricultural sector, as they provide opportunities to benefit from international expertise in developing irrigation systems, expanding the use of treated water, enhancing rainwater harvesting, and raising the efficiency of managing available resources, in a way that supports the continuity of agricultural production and reduces burdens on farmers.

The Palestinian participation stressed the importance of communicating the needs of the agricultural sector to international forums, strengthening technical and institutional partnerships to develop practical and sustainable solutions to water challenges, and supporting water and food security and the resilience of farmers and their adherence to their land.

Salimiyeh was accompanied on the visit by the program coordinator in Palestine, Engineer Imad Khalif.